ORGANISERS of an action group opposed to the building of 300 houses in Berkeley have laughed off suggestions that they are "scare-mongering".

The Association of Berkeley Residents Against Insensitive Development (ABRAID) has been accused of circulating a leaflet presenting inaccurate information.

The accusation came in a letter to the Gazette from Stroud District Council's cabinet member for planning, Cllr Barbara Tait (Con, Painswick).

Cllr Tait said: "Officers of Stroud District Council are duty bound to present factual and accurate information.

"In the interests of seeking an objective debate on the issues raised, I feel it is necessary to comment on the scare-mongering contents of the ABRAID leaflet."

The leaflet in question was a flyer sent out by ABRAID to attract people to their meeting at Berkeley Primary School last week.

The photocopied A4 flyer had a picture of Berkeley Castle on the front with a number of large houses superimposed on its grounds and a caption alerting residents: "Don't say you were not warned."

Added Cllr Tait: "The Inspector took into account the relationship of the site with Berkeley Castle and concluded that it would not materially affect its historic setting.

"The proposed houses would not surround the castle, as the leaflet seems to suggest."

But ABRAID chairman John Stanton said that the design had more to do with artistic licence than scare-mongering.

He said: "We had very little time to get something out and we thought this would catch the eye.

"Inside the leaflet and at the meeting we made it quite clear where the development is going to go."

However, Mr Stanton added that, if the Local Plan recommendations are adopted, the cover design of the leaflet could end up being more close to the truth than anyone might think.

He added: "If Berkeley is made a principal settlement then there will be houses built everywhere around the town."

Cabinet and council will assess the inspector's report in March and April. Should the proposed 300 homes for Berkeley remain in the plan then a full public consultation would begin in May.