Scores of concerned residents have signed up to become

members of an action group to fight plans to build thousands of

new homes at Ashton Vale.

More than 70 people have pledged their support to the Dundry

Residents' Action Group (Drag) in the past 24 hours – and

hundreds more are expected to join the fight.

The wave of public support for Drag comes after it organised

a public meeting at Dundry village hall to discuss proposals to

build 9,000 homes on a 200-hectare swathe of green-belt land

stretching from the A38 at Dundry, near the Barrow Tanks, right

down to the A370 Long Ashton bypass to Ashton Vale.

The development, which is currently in the draft planning

stages, would be built in phases over 20 years, from 2011, to

meet Government targets for new housing for the region's

growing population.

More than 100 residents packed into the meeting on Tuesday

night to air their concerns about the proposed south west urban

extension.

Drag spokeswoman Debbie Nicholls, 59, of Bridgwater Road,

said she was ecstatic at the level of support for the action

group shown by the local community.

Mrs Nicholls said: "We had around 100 people at the meeting

and out of these people, 71 have signed up as members of

Drag.

"People are very passionate about protecting the green belt

and were prepared to join us and work hard to fight the

proposals.

"I am ecstatic at the level of support we have received from

the local community and we are expecting our membership to now

grow massively."

Mrs Nicholls said the group was now looking at becoming an

official action group with its own constitution and that it was

considering setting up a paid membership scheme to help raise

money to continue the campaign.

Work is already under way to set up a website, while

petitions and maps detailing the proposed development are being

delivered to local stores and garages.

Mrs Nicholls said: "We are going to have to raise some funds

to help continue our fight and are considering setting up a

paid membership and asking people for a nominal amount to cover

our basic costs.

"We have also been busy delivering the maps and petitions to

local outlets as it is important we get the message out to

everybody about these proposals so they can have their

say."

The group has already contacted parish councils in

neighbouring Long Ashton, Barrow Gurney and Backwell and now

intends to talk to similar organisations in the Bristol

area.

Mrs Nicholls said she was also trying to arrange a meeting

with Woodspring MP Dr Liam Fox to seek his support in fighting

the proposals.

She said: "We want Dr Fox to stand tall with us and help us

fight. We are also contacting other parish councils in the area

to support us as we all need to be singing from the same hymn

sheet. Together we will have a stronger voice to fight these

proposals."

Anyone wanting more information about Drag should email

debbie.nicholls@btconnect.com

The petition and map is already available at the Spar shop,

Kings Head Lane, Uplands, for anyone who wishes to sign it.