The objectors will gather at Aberaeron for the meeting

The talks came ahead of a public inquiry into the controversy, which starts next year.

The 15-year scheme has caused a great deal of argument in Ceredigion, and even led to a campaign for a London-style mayor in the county.

On Thursday, the official procedure of the inquiry was explained to those opposing the plans.

The full public inquiry by a Welsh assembly appointed team into Ceredigion County Council's unitary development plan (UDP) is due to start on 18 January.

It has been one of the main political issues in the county for two years.

According to council leader Dai Lloyd Evans, interviewed on BBC Radio Cymru, 11,000 objections to the plan have been registered.

Meanwhile, the total cost of the inquiry is expected to cost about �150,000.

Cllr Lloyd Evans was accused of standing to make hundreds of thousands of pounds from the UDP, after it emerged he owned land earmarked for potential development.

If there is to be a future for the Welsh-speaking communities of Ceredigion then this inquiry must take its responsibilities seriously Huw Lewis

However, he was subsequently cleared of any wrong doing and no charges were brought after a police investigation.

A campaign for a London-style mayor was launched last year - prompted by the plans to build the new homes in the county.

The subsequent election in May voted to continue with the council cabinet system.

Thursday's meeting was held in Aberaeron.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society), is one of the objectors to the UDP.

'Welsh-speaking communities'

Chairman Huw Lewis, said: "It is important that this inquiry is much more than a bureaucratic exercise and it takes into consideration the concerns of the people of Ceredigion about the UDP.

"If there is to be a future for the Welsh-speaking communities of Ceredigion then this inquiry must take its responsibilities seriously."

The local authority said: "Ceredigion County Council has followed the statutory procedures and guidance in undertaking work required for the unitary development plan at all times.

"Consultation on the draft plan was for a total of two months, not two years.

"There is a statutory duty to consult on plans for a six-week period, and due to the size of the county and to give as many people a chance as possible to comment, we consulted for eight weeks instead."

"It then took just over a year to deal with all the representations and revise the document for more formal consultation in 2002."