ONE of Yate’s most prominent campaigners against plans for thousands of new homes in the town has said she is more hopeful than ever that the development will not go ahead.

Town councillor Chris Willmore was speaking after a meeting was called to discuss a senior government inspector’s concerns surrounding the soundness of South Gloucestershire Council’s main planning blueprint, the Core Strategy.

Cllr Willmore has organised a number of well-attended public meetings against a proposal by Heron Land Developments to build 3,000 homes at Brimsham Park in north Yate as well as developments elsewhere in the town.

She told the Gazette this week: "From Yate’s point of view if the Core Strategy does not hold up I think that is quite good news. I am actually more hopeful than I have been for a long time."

She said she believed the decision to close Filton Airfield should give rise to a reassessment of housing developments in South Gloucestershire.

"It means South Gloucestershire Council really does have to go back and look at the implications of closing Filton Airfield," she said. "From our point of view that would solve all our problems.

"The land is close to transport networks and recreation grounds and there are no problems with the sewage system so if you release a lot of it for housing you can meet the housing need without creating the kind of transport and flooding problems you will here in Yate."

She added: "There is now a huge, overwhelming case for saying that if Filton Airfield is no longer going to be an airfield it should be used for development."

However, Heron Land Developments is pressing ahead with its plans for Brimsham Park with a further round of public consultation this weekend.

A spokesman said: "We are aware of the meeting, however, at this point in time, we do not believe the inspector’s concerns have any relevance or direct impact on the north Yate new neighbourhood."

Residents in Iron Acton are also hopeful that the inspector’s concerns will lead to a review of the Core Strategy.

Mike Keenan, who is leading a campaign group against development at Engine Common, said he hoped more consultation would be carried out.

"If the Core Strategy was found to be flawed because there was not enough public consultation and the council had to go back to residents, they would find ever more support to protect our rural areas," he said.

"We are less likely to get development if more people object so it might work in our favour."