A CAMPAIGN against thousands of new homes in Yate received the backing of hundreds of residents at a packed meeting.

More than 300 people of all ages watched Northavon MP Steve Webb and Yate Town Cllr Chris Willmore give presentations on proposals for 5,000 new homes.

Mr Webb explained how an independent body working for the Regional Spatial Strategy had allocated the number of homes for the town out of 30,800 for the South Gloucestershire area by 2026.

Cllr Willmore then picked out and analysed extracts from the report.

She brought laughter from the packed audience when she explained the body's justifications for more housing in the town included adequate transport links.

She explained, if the report is agreed upon, that it would be up to South Gloucestershire Council to do the dirty work' of finding places for the housing to go.

Cllr Willmore, who has fought against housing developments in the town for over a decade, said nowhere was safe from over-development around the town.

She said: "Every single person in this room has something to do to help us stop these woefully thought out plans.

"Join our campaign, write in to the government - tell them of potential problems more housing could cause to our town, let's all do it.

"It is up to us to try to stop it."

The meeting was held at Brimsham Green School on Friday evening.

See this week's Gazette for a full report on the meeting.