BIDFORD'S parish appraisal group has frowned on a leaflet issued by a resident advising others on how to fill in a forthcoming survey.

Villagers were puzzled when they received a leaflet last week telling them to fill in their appraisal forms supporting development on the village's gipsy site, Friday Furlong.

Appraisal chairman Mike Gerrard said he received calls from confused villagers asking whether the letter had any connections with the group, which is preparing the appraisal for distribution later this month.

He said: "The leaflet was sent out by David Goodyear and I told him that I was dismayed by it.

"He did apologise to me but my problem was that people started ringing me and I had to tell them that it was nothing to do with the group at all.

"It is exactly the opposite of what the appraisal group is trying to do. We are trying to be totally impartial as far as each question is concerned. What use is an appraisal if it isn't impartial?

"We advise the people of Bidford not to allow themselves to be influenced by lobbying of any kind on the part of interested parties but to deal objectively with the appraisal questionnaire when they receive it and answer the questions in accordance with their own knowledge, opinions and wishes for the future of the village."

Former parish councillor Mr Goodyear said he sent out the leaflet but forgot to put his name on it.

He said: "About six months ago I put out a leaflet saying that the gipsies wanted to leave Friday Furlong. I went to the appraisal group and cleared it with them and they were fine about it.

"Because of the delay in the appraisal, I updated it with the conclusions from the Local Plan review meeting earlier this year.

"The residents of Friday Furlong want to leave the area and have land available to them in areas outside South Warwickshire.

"I trust the people of Bidford to complete the appraisal form objectively. All I have done is provide them with a set of facts."