A NEIGHBOURHOOD group meeting descended into chaos and was almost abandoned after the council failed to predict the strength of feeling from Webheath residents over a possible housing development.

By 2011, Redditch Council has to build 4,550 houses and currently there is a shortfall of about 250.

But full capacity has been reached in urban areas so the council is looking at 'areas of development restraint' (ADRs).

Enfield/Brockhill, the A435 corridor between Matchborough East and Winyates Green and Webheath are all being investigated.

Knowing this, more than 100 Webheath residents turned up to the neighbourhood meeting to voice their fears.

But the council had only managed to book the village hall's small room, which has seating capacity for about half those who attended.

The people forced to stand outside protested angrily that they could not hear and most people did not have an agenda.

One furious resident told chairman Councillor Pat Wilson: "What on earth is the point of holding this public meeting when the public cannot even get into it? It's a farce."

When asked if more people could be moved into the room, Mrs Wilson said she believed there were already too many and was concerned about health and safety implications.

A fire exit was also partially blocked by people.

But amid talk of abandoning the important meeting, another group using the hall's large room saved the day by allowing the meeting to be moved there.

After a long delay, the residents were finally addressed by a council planning officer on how they could object to the housing when the Local Plan goes out for consultation in February.