A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Yate next week against the mounting number of housing developments in the town.

The event is being organised by Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb in an effort to inform local people about plans to build thousands of new homes. In recent months, six sites around Yate have been identified for new housing estates. They are: * Taylor Wimpey has begun building 228 homes on the former sea stores site on Kennedy Way.

* Barratt Homes has submitted plans for 250 houses at Peg Hill.

* Heron Homes has held public consultations on proposals for 3,000 homes at Brimsham Park on land earmarked for development by South Gloucestershire Council.

* Bloor Homes and Sydney Freed Holdings confirmed they want to build 350 houses at Engine Common in Iron Acton.

* The council has agreed to sell off the Rodford Primary School site for development.

* Terramond, which already has planning permission for 70 houses on the Coopers factory site on Westerleigh Road, announced it now plans to flatten the factory and build even more homes.

Mr Webb said the sheer number of possible developments made complaining difficult for residents.

"One of the main points of the meeting is to make sure local people actually know what is going on," he said. "At the moment it is quite baffling.

"The aim is to make them aware of what is going on and how to make their views known."

He said the influx of plans was down to the council’s planning blueprint, the core strategy, which is awaiting approval from an independent inspector.

"Clearly developers are active," said Mr Webb. "They know this document is crucial and are pushing boundaries. We need to equip people so they can make their voices heard."

Meanwhile, a campaign group against the 3,000 homes at Brimsham Park is gathering pace.

Resident Mike Archer, who attended the Heron Homes exhibition in March, is leading calls against the development.

He aid: "This will have a significant impact not only on Brimsham Park but also the town of Yate and the countryside as a whole.

"There is no need for such a massive development and the current infrastructure of Yate, and its surrounding areas, services and amenities cannot cope with the huge influx of vehicles and people into the area."

The meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 12 (7.30pm) at Yate Parish Hall, on Station Road. A Facebook group has been set up, search for Stop Brimsham Park Housing.