PEOPLE will be told how to make effective objections to plans for 1,650 homes on fields at a meeting later this month.

Campaigners Leckhampton Green Land Action Group are hosting the event to give people more information about the Joint Core Strategy.

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood and environmentalist Jonathon Porritt will give expert advice about the housing plans.

Leglag chairman, Kit Braunholtz, said: "They will be speaking about the future of Leckhampton and Cheltenham in connection with the Joint Core Strategy.

"In the context of what's going to happen in Cheltenham, we are very concerned and it is important that people know exactly what is being planned."

People will be able to ask questions about the strategy document, which runs to 72 pages.

"It is very difficult because the authorities have put out a shortened version, which is very short," added Mr Braunholtz.

"They have also put out a questionnaire, which we think isn't asking the right questions."

The group is preparing to send 4,500 leaflets to homes in the Leckhampton, Warden Hill and Bath Road areas, with others likely to be printed and distributed more widely.

The Joint Core Strategy was drawn up by planning chiefs in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester and seeks to address housing needs for the future.

It replaced the previous government's Regional Spatial Strategy.

Part of the document involves building 1,650 homes on the edge of Leckhampton, which Leglag says will harm the environment and take up much-loved green space.

The proposals would see a development spanning Cheltenham and Tewkesbury boroughs.

Other housing plans as part of the JCS include building thousands of homes to the north west of Cheltenham.

In total, 40,500 homes could be built in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester.

The public consultation on this stage of the process ends on February 12 and a series of roadshow events, including one in Uckington yesterday, are being held.

The Leglag meeting will take place at Leckhampton Primary School, in Hall Road, at 7.30pm on January 20.