The leader of Gloucestershire County Council said criticism of its Investment Zones bid is "shameful" and shows a "lack of ambition".

Cllr Mark Hawthorne has hit back after local councilors in Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester  all said they would fight against the scheme.

He is leading a bid for two Investment Zones in the county which would allow the relaxing of planning rules to accelerate development.

One zone comprises the Golden Valley Development, Elms Park, Tewkesbury Garden Town and Gloucestershire Airport. The other is the 65-hectare Berkeley Investment Zone, which sits around a former nuclear power station.

Stroud District Council swiftly moved to block the bid and said it would allow developers to "ride roughshod" over environmental protections and local communities.

Cllr Max Wilkinson, Cheltenham cabinet member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, led a boycott of it and said it would lower standards of placemaking and environmental performance.

Meanwhile Liberal Democrats Jeremy Hilton and Declan Wilson have tabled a motion to the next full Gloucester City Council meeting on November 17 calling for a boycott of the proposals.

Cllr Hawthorne said his political rivals have failed to see the opportunity the zones present.

He said: "When given the opportunity to drive growth in Gloucestershire, support and revitalise our local economy, the county council grasped it.

"It is shameful that the Green led Stroud administration and the Liberal Democrats in Cheltenham decided to let this opportunity pass by."

He said the proposed zone is not even in the Gloucester City Council boundary and it was "especially disappointing" to see the Liberal Democrats attempting to halt growth in neighbouring communities.

Cllr Hawthorne said their lack of support could see innovative businesses, that could provide sustainable jobs, especially for younger people, choosing to set up elsewhere. He said that would threaten the regeneration at Berkeley and the viability of the Cheltenham Cyber Park.

Cllr Hawthorne added: "The Liberal Democrats like to accuse us of not being ambitious enough: this decision shows clearly that it is the Liberal Democrats who are lacking in ambition, lacking in direction and lacking in leadership.

"Gloucestershire deserves better and so does Stroud. Both Conservative MPs, Alex Chalk and Siobhan Baillie, backed these expression of interests because like us, they know that these areas badly need to attract investment, especially in innovative and sustainable green technologies. The Greens and Lib Dems have both said that they are committed to creating opportunity at these sites however their actions show that there is no action to back up this sentiment, rendering it worthless.

"The Conservatives at the County Council deliver more than just words. That is why we have submitted the EOIs despite this attempt to hold back growth in Gloucestershire because we believe that our communities deserve more even if Stroud and Cheltenham district councils don't."

The Investment Zones were part of the September mini-budget by the-then chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. They immediately caused problems for Liz Truss' Conservative government with environmental groups concerned they do away with safeguards for wildlife, landscapes, and buildings.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has now said he is reviewing the plans alongside current chancellor Jeremy Hunt, prime minister Rishi Sunak and environment secretary Therese Coffey.