THE strength of feeling against the proposed development for Binhamy Farm, Stratton, was demonstrated last Saturday when as many as 100 people braved icy roads and sub-zero temperatures to attend a public meeting.

A packed Ivor Potter Hall at the Parkhouse Centre, Bude, heard how Warwickshire developers Catesby Property Group had appealed against Cornwall Council's decision to reject their application for outline planning permission at Binhamy Farm.

In short, Catesby's plans had not been stopped, and if the community wished to oppose the development it would need to speak at the forthcoming appeal.

Bude and Stratton councillors Nathan Bale, Nigel Pearce and Ian Saltern explained to concerned residents that they had been advised to seek professional help to draw together the community's statements of opposition to the appeal. The appeal was likely to take place in March and to be held in Bude.

Those attending the meeting were then asked to vote on a decision to pay for legal help in drawing together the community's case for opposing the development.

A vote in favour was passed unanimously. Cllrs Bale, Pearce and Saltern then explained that at a previous meeting of concerned residents, held on December 16, over £4,000 had been pledged towards the cost of legal assistance, and that further pledges were needed.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Bale said: "I am heartened by today's attendance, particularly given the exceptional weather conditions. People in this area obviously feel very strongly about Catesby's plans. They know that they the 400 plus houses proposed by Catesby is simply too many.

"If genuinely affordable housing for young people was being proposed I think people might differently. But that's not what being proposed. This mega-development could still go ahead and Catesby will throwing a lot of money at the appeal to try to ensure they win it. Frankly, it makes a mockery of democracy that a development which has been rejected twice by the elected representatives of the area could still go ahead because the developers can afford the best lawyers."

He added: "I am sickened that we have to ask people living in an area with some of the lowest wages in the country to put their hands in their pockets to help give us a fighting chance of stopping this nonsense."

The Binhamy Appeal Fighting Fund is asking all those who oppose Catesby's proposed development to pledge a sum of money to help cover the costs of professional legal assistance.

A pledge box is being place at Wroes, Belle Vue, Bude; HBH Woolacotts, Queen Street, or Lansdown Dairies, Bude.

A spokesman said: "It is vitally important that the community acts collectively to oppose the development and seeks professional help to select the strongest arguments for the appeal."

The deadline for writing to the Planning Inspectorate is January 20. Any correspondence should be sent to The Planning Inspectorate, Room 4/04, Temple Quay House, No 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6NP, quoting the reference number APP/D0840/A/09/2115945.