BERKELEY could possibly escape with half the number of houses suggested by the government planning inspector, the town council was told by their local MP on Monday.

"There are always grounds for manoeuvre," Stroud MP David Drew told the council. "You have to fight your corner. You are bargaining on the number of houses. Half that number might be more realistic."

Berkeley Town Council had asked Mr Drew to come to their meeting on Monday to advise on the best course of action following the universally unpopular inspector's recommendation in the local plan for 300 houses to be built on land close to Berkeley Castle.

The land was formerly a landfill site and is on a prominent position on the approach to the town from the A38.

In a survey carried out by the town council, 296 residents were opposed to the housing allocation while 41 agreed with the inspector.

Stroud District Council's cabinet is due to discuss the matter next month and the deadline for the town council's response is March 10.

Following the decision by cabinet in March, the matter will go before SDC's full council in April before the changes to the plan are put on deposit for six weeks of public consultation.

"In theory that is when changes can be made, but by that time the sites are already decided," said chairman Cllr Ralph Pinnell.

Acting on Mr Drew's advice, the council decided that the main thrust of their objection to the proposal would be that, contrary to the inspector's view, Berkeley could not be regarded as one of the principal towns of Gloucestershire. "If it is agreed that we are not a principal town then they will have to put the houses somewhere else," said Cllr Valerie Watts.

"Berkeley has a population of about 1,800. It can hardly be classed as a principal settlement," stressed Cllr Mike Denning.

The town council also plans to propose some sites in the vicinity that might be able to take a proportion of the houses. SW