PARISH leaders in Almondsbury are seeking residents' views on the community facilites that will be need if and when the former Hortham Hospital site is developed for housing.

Developers Barratt Homes and Taylor Woodrow are preparing to submit new plans for up to 315 homes on the 22-acre "brown field" site in Hortham Lane.

Earlier plans for 250 homes were withdrawn by the house builders in autumn last year, resulting the in the calling off of a public inquiry scheduled for December.

Uncertainty over the future of the long-disused site has dragged on for years during which the old hospital buildings have become increasingly derelict, vandalised and vermin infested.

The future of the old hospital - built in the 1930s - has been in the balance since it closed in 1993 and was bought four years later for £3million by a property company.

South Gloucestershire Council approved a housing scheme- subject to conditions including A38 junction improvements funded by the developers - but were overruled by government planning chiefs.

Builders twice mounted successful legal challenges to planning refusals by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who ruled last year that the issue should be the subject of yet another inquiry.

Almondsbury Parish Council heard this week that local residents had now met the developers and had been told that the new plans would involve a mix of affordable and rented properties plus some larger family homes for sale.

Cllr Di Wilson said the planning authority was under a duty to seek undertakings regarding the provision of community facilities.

"We must keep our foot on the pedal with this one," she said. "There are things that are going to have to be provided by the developers.

"If they want to build these houses then let them put their hands in their pockets to provide for future genrations."

Council chairman Sheila Cook said she would welcome the views of parishioners on what facilities would be needed on any new estate.

Responses should be sent to parish clerk Louise Langdon at 250 Gorse Cover Road, Severn Beach, BS35 4NT (call 01454 631811 or email louiselangdon@hotmail.com