THE people of Winchester have been urged to resist the "cabal of experts" trying to impose the £100m Silver Hill development.

Winchester Residents' AssociBation members backed a motion calling for the scheme to be radically changed to reduce its impact on the city.

Developers Thornfield Proper-ties, and the city council, have proposed a scheme of shops, offices, flats, car parking, bus station and doctors' surgery in the rundown space between The Broadway and Friarsgate.

Much of the development would be six or seven storeys and tower over surrounding streets.

Traditional architect Robert Adam told the association's annual meeting that the scheme, designed by London-based Allies and Morrison, was simply too big for the site.

He said: "It is wrong. There is nothing in Winchester that looks like that, and nothing in Winchester has ever looked like that. There is no question it will change the character of Winchester."

He said ordinary people's common sense should be relied upon more than the "cabals of experts".

Association member Keith Story asked: "Do these architects have a background of bullying? Do they come from broken homes? They seem to have a grudge against society."

The 60-stong meeting backed a motion calling for a fundamental review of the Silver Hill scheme and its compliance with the original planning brief.

A Winchester City Council spokesman said: "The proposed Silver Hill redevelopment has been subject to wide consultation both with members of the public and interested local bodies. Most recently Thornfield Properties have carried out extensive consultation on their submitted planning application.

"The city council and Thorn-field Properties welcome, and recognise the importance of, support and constructive criticism from a wide section of the community.

"The final decision on this site rests with the planning committee, who are hardly a 'cabal'."

l Veteran campaigner Alan Weeks has stood down from the chairmanship of the association to be replaced by secretary John Thomas.