BOSSES at the firm behind plans for an exclusive £12million retirement village at Dunball have accepted an invitation to meet families living in the area to hear concerns about the impact of the proposed development.

Last week, the Mercury revealed that 60 people had signed up to a petition objecting to the proposals - suggesting that extra traffic from the 90 residents and 100 staff would clog roads and prove a danger to people living in Downend as motorists seek shortcuts through the village.

They also suggested the site was "completely wrong" for such a development, as it is out of town and would leave elderly residents feeling cut off from the community.

Sam Notaro, finance director at Notaro Care Homes, the firm behind the proposal, moved to allay fears, but protestors say his comments have done little to dispel their worries, and invited him to meet them face-to-face to discuss the issue - an invitation he accepted readily.