SEDBURY has been named as the latest target for builders working to increase the number of homes in the South West – and local people are speaking out against it.
The Winston Group is considering development ideas for an area of land between the A48 and Wyedean School and has arranged workshops to generate ideas with local people.
But protesters say anyone who helps the developers at this stage will sleepwalk the area into compliance.
The South West Regional Development Plan, which shapes the council's planning process has named Gloucestershire as an area which needs more homes.
The Sedbury working plan is for up to 300 houses along with community facilities which are yet to be decided and open space.
Initial workshop participants looked at transport, community facilities and how the new development would fit with the broader community in Sedbury, say the developers.
They say that they are in the very early stages of discussions and plans to send participants an update with the results of the workshops and hold further consultation before a planning application is submitted. Those who returned the first survey will receive an update newsletter.
Nick Webb from the consultancy Meeting Place Communications said: "It will be an on-going consultation and we wanted to start community engagement at the earliest possible stage, even though we do not have all the answers yet."
He said that involving the community at a later stage when more concrete plans were in place would give them less scope to influence the design. But their method has not convinced all the locals.
Chepstow resident Alan Linegar said: "I am very suspicious of the motives behind this consultation.
"I believe the developer is trying to draw the Parish Council and the people of the parish into discussing a proposal that has no validity in planning terms, in order to give some credence to their plans.
"Anyone attending meetings or workshops arranged by Meeting Place Communications must be on their guard so that if they are asked to complete a questionnaire or answer questions verbally, they convey the most negative response possible.
"This proposal must be resisted at every opportunity or our parish will be swamped."
He voices concerns that the land is outside the settlement boundary and the development would stretch water, sewerage and transport links.
Fears of increases in crime and drainage problems were also raised.
He added: "Local people must ask themselves three things. Do we need it? Do we want it? Do we want to destroy another area of green?"