CAMPAIGNERS at the forefront of a group opposed to a possible 300-home development in Berkeley have set out their plan of action to fellow residents.

On Tuesday members of ABRAID (Berkeley Residents Against Insensitive Development) held a meeting for townspeople in Berkeley Primary School.

At the meeting the group outlined the implications of the Local Plan inspector's report and highlighted what people can do next.

Chairman John Stanton was very happy with the way the meeting went and the way the campaign was taking shape.

He said: "There were around 130 people in attendance and we now have 154 members of ABRAID, as well as a lot of supporters in households where one person has signed up on behalf of everyone else.

"As a group we are now writing to the press and preparing our case to present to Stroud district councillors in time for their vote in March.

"We will be pointing out the failures in the inspector's report to show that this development cannot go ahead.

"However, we are encouraging individuals to write to councillors themselves because people have their own concerns and we do not want to produce a stereotypical standard letter that everyone just signs their name to."

Mr Stanton used the meeting to explain the group's main arguments, including that Berkeley should not be considered a principal settlement, that the road network is inadequate and that the site is likely to flood regularly.

Further reasons to reject the plan were supplied by Berkeley Primary School headteacher Martin Bragg.

He told the meeting that the school currently had 202 pupils with a capacity of 210.

The 300 extra homes would be likely to yield around 80 more pupils for the school, creating a need for three extra classrooms.

However, Mr Bragg explained current buildings would be nearly impossible to extend and nearby land is a protected wildlife area.

BLOB Anyone wishing to sign up to ABRAID who has not already done so can join by contacting treasurer Colin Whiteside at the Old Pharmacy, 4 High Street, Berkeley.