HUNDREDS of Chipping Sodbury residents turned out to see revised plans for a new housing and shopping development in their town.

More than 550 residents dropped in to check on detailed proposals for up to 300 homes and a parade of shops, including a Waitrose supermarket, at a two-day exhibition in the town hall last week.

The 30-acre development would be built on the southern end of Barnhill Quarry, off Wickwar Road, close to the town centre.

The scheme would include a new pedestrian bridge over the River Frome, linking the development with the town centre.

Visitors browsed exhibition boards and questioned representatives from the Bristol-based developer Chelverton Deeley Freed.

Most welcomed changes made to the plans since they were first put on view last year, particularly the move of the proposed supermarket further away from St John's Church.

Fay Blackey, of Ross Close, said: "I've changed my mind about the plans. I voted against it before because of the siting of the supermarket, but now, after seeing what they have done, I'm happier.

"I think a Waitrose in the town would be popular because we don't have anything like it here."

Jim Ruston, of The High Street, said: "Having a pedestrian link from the houses to the town centre will make it convenient for people who come to live here to use their local shops.

"It is very important the development keeps to being part of the town, not a separate estate."

His wife Joyce added: "A Waitrose is an ideal choice of supermarket for this town."

Some visitors, however, questioned how the town's infrastructure could cope with up to 300 more homes.

A man, who did not wish to be named, said the development would worsen the town's drainage problem and gridlock surrounding roads.

Mike Johnson, of Chestnut Drive, also expressed concern. He said: "Waitrose is the selling point for the development. If Waitrose was not part of it, residents would have thrown the idea out long ago.

"For me, too many houses are being proposed too close to the centre of this town.

"But I'm accepting the scheme is to happen, under government housing targets, towns like Chipping Sodbury are inevitably going to have to cope with more homes sooner or later."

Avril Baker, of Avril Baker Consultancy, organised the exhibition on behalf of Chelverton Deeley Freed.

She said: "The two day exhibition had a great turnout. People in Chipping Sodbury obviously care about the town and are keen to be involved in any future developments."

Chelverton Deeley Freed hope to submit a planning application for the scheme by autumn this year.

Completion of the development could be as early as 2014.

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