Warring factions on Bath and North East Somerset Council have united to reject a Whitehall planning blueprint for the area.

Labour, the Conservatives and Lib Dems are calling on the district's citizens to support a campaign against Government demands that more than 21,300 new homes be built in the area between now and 2026.

But councillors have mounted a vocal rejection of the latest total in the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), saying such a high level of house-building would destroy green-belt land and rural communities.

At a full council meeting on Thursday night, members voted to send an official protest to Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to the RSS, arguing the originally mooted figure of 15,500 homes was more realistic.

The RSS calls for 8,000 new homes in the Whitchurch area to the south-east of Bristol, 6,000 homes in Bath, 3,000 in and around Keynsham, 2,000 to the south of Bath and another 2,300 elsewhere in the council area.

Cabinet member for planning Councillor Charles Gerrish said: "Local communities across the district will strongly oppose these Government increases and it is important for them to know the council is with them every step of the way.

"The numbers proposed by the Government are completely unrealistic given the existing projections in job growth and housing. It is simply undeliverable in the proposed timeframe.

"There is little evidence so far of the Government guaranteeing the funding necessary to provide the essential infrastructure to support these extra houses, such as improvements to health services, education facilities, and transport".

He said the proposed expansion of the town he represents, Keynsham, would threaten the green belt between Bristol and Bath, possibly merging the identity of the two cities.

Conservative councillor, and the chairman of the panel that looked into the proposals, Martin Veal, said he was concerned by the economic growth projections upon which the housing forecasts were based. He said: "We must send an unequivocal message to the Government requiring them to revisit the housing and employment growth figures they have put forward, and which appear overly optimistic at best.

"We will vigorously defend the fundamental green-belt principles. If that is not clear for Blears then perhaps this is: We do not want a Bath/Bristol conurbation."

After the meeting the council said in an official statement: "BANES Council encourages local residents to write directly to the Government to give their view about the changes proposed by the Secretary of State.

"This is the best way for Government ministers to understand the concerns of local communities and the objections that town councils, parish councils, and local people may have."

The consultation exercise about the proposed changes to the RSS ends on October 17.

Details are on the websites www.gosw.gov.uk/gosw/planninghome and comments can also be made by email to rssconsult@gosw.gsi.gov.uk

Bath MP Don Foster has called a public meeting on the RSS at the Guildhall on September 30 at 7.30pm. The Tories will hold one at 7pm on September 19 at the community association hall in Bristol Road at Whitchurch.