The author of a book which galavanised opposition to the destruction of key parts of Bath 40 years ago has rallied campaigners against new housing plans.
There was standing room only at a public meeting addressed by writer Adam Fergusson, marking the 40th anniversary of his book The Sack of Bath.
He is backing campaigners against a Bath and north east Somerset Council decision to earmark land at Odd Down for 300 homes.
More than 160 people attended his talk at the BRLSI in Queen Square, and a video link had to be set up to another room so that everyone could hear.
The meeting was also addressed by Bath Preservation Trust chief executive Caroline Kay and Joe Evans of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.
Mr Fergusson, now in his 80s, was speaking as B&NES comes under pressure to find space for more homes in the district.
But he said: "If I were the Secretary of State reviewing new proposals for in and around Bath, I would say this: 'Plan as you please, but don't come back to me to approve any development in the countryside until every brownfield acre in this World Heritage Site has been used up, and every existing building properly occupied. And don't then bring me a plan which isn't written in plain, simple English'."
Opposition to the housing suggested in the council's core strategy blueprint is being coordinated by groups the South of Bath Alliance and Protect Bath, which are organising a mass email and petition campaign.
Mr Evans called into question the Government's policy on affordable housing.
"When government ministers are asked: 'How much do you want to see house prices fall by?', they are far from happy with the question," he said.
He added that it would never be possible to provide enough housing for everyone who would like to live in Bath. "Bath is a great place to live, and that brings its own problems. We need to face up to the fact that prices will remain high, simply because demand is always going to exceed supply."
Mr Evans argued that the building programme was often being driven by pressure from construction companies, rather than housing need, with such firms favouring greenfield sites because it is usually cheaper.
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