HOME office minister Beverley Hughes has revealed that the plans for an asylum centre at Throckmorton have been put back again during a private visit to Wychavon.

Earlier this year Home Office officials told Wychavon District Council to expect to receive detailed plans for a 750 bed centre in September, then October, and now they have put them back at least another month.

District councillor Malcolm Argyle said: "The officials who came with her confirmed the plans wouldn't be ready this month. We don't know why the delay but it can only be a good thing."

Prior to arriving at the Pershore council offices, the minister was taken on a tour of the proposed Throckmorton site. The following meeting enabled key councillors and council officers to put their case against the centre face to face with her.

Coun Argyle said: "It was a good meeting. She was very well informed and I felt we had time to discuss the issues with her. I impressed on her that the people who live in Throckmorton and the surrounding villages had had enough with the drama of the foot and mouth disease without receiving a smack in the face from the Home Office with yet another problem."

He said he asked her to consider how an 750 extra people in a small isolated hamlet such as Throckmorton would affect the community.

District council leader, Malcolm Meikle said: "The main purpose of the meeting was to put over the particular planning issues relating to Throckmorton, and the fact that a government inspector had previously ruled it out for housing.

"Formal consultations will begin and the full planning process brought into action following any notification of development by the Home Office."

l Thousands of pounds was raised last Wednesday (2) at the Vale Golf Club in Bishampton by the action group PACT, to go towards legal fees in the event of a planning appeal.