PROTESTERS have forced the leadership of Salisbury district council to call a special council meeting to discuss massive development plans for the area.

It will be held in the City Hall on Wednesday, April 23 at 6pm - just two days before the deadline for replies to the public consultation exercise over the Preferred Options document which sets out proposals for 12,400 new homes and 14,000 new jobs.

The turnaround came a week after Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors rejected calls for the meeting claiming it would be a "distraction" from the key issues of the consultation.

However, they have been forced to bow to pressure and the cabinet meeting planned for April 23 has been moved so the special meeting can go ahead.

Meanwhile opponents of the proposal to build 2,500 homes on the edge of Winterslow are planning a rally in the Market Square on Saturday, April 19.

Organised by councillor Chris Devine, it will start at 11am.

"The mood of the residents of Winterslow is pretty angry," he said.

"We are expecting a large turnout."

In Laverstock and Ford, councillor John King has organised a walk round the proposed greenfield development sites within the parish this Sunday, and anyone interested is invited to join in.

It will start from the home of parish councillors Ron and Sarah Champion in Ford, at 10.30am.

As a result of the furore over the Preferred Options, district councillors have now been promised a briefing in early May on the outcome of the public consultation, with a separate session for town and parish councillors, before anything is finalised.

In an email to members, David Milton, of the forward planning department, said: "I can assure you that some key messages are being heard loud and clear."