PLANS for the Chapel Street development in Cam have yet to be finalised after Cam Parish Council decided that the latest plans were unsuitable.

Cllr Margaret Nolder, chairman of the council's development committee, said that the latest changes had been recommended because there were not enough shops in the plans - drawn up by Cheltenham Builders - and some of the layout was undesirable.

Councillors wanted the development to include houses or bungalows for the elderly and disabled, as well as a number of shops.

Cllr Brian Addle pinned the blame for the lack of shopping units in the latest plan firmly at the door of the planning department of Stroud District Council.

He said: "It seems to me that the planners at the district council have a hidden agenda. They want to create a residential development because they fear that a large development of shops would have a damaging effect on Dursley.

"We would be doing a complete disservice to the people of Cam if we let the plans go through as they are."

However, chairman Cllr Dennis Andrewartha, who sits on the district council's building control committee, denied that the planners had an axe to grind.

All councillors agreed that there was a need for more shops to be incorporated into the development plans, although it was important to carefully assess how many shops were required.

Cllr John Hudson said: "It is all very well to want more shops, but if they remain empty the development will not be viable."

It was left to Cllr Andrewartha to sum up the overall position with regard to the plans.

He said: "There are good things in the development plans and there are some bad things as well. The balance is wrong, there is too much residential development.

"The problem is that we are dealing with a developer that wants to make money and the money is in building houses."