IS SHE listening at last? As 20,000 people sign up to a petition against plans to house asylum seekers at Lee-on-the-Solent, Home Office minister Beverley Hughes has agreed to meet critics during a visit to the site.

The pledge came in response to a parliamentary question by Gosport MP Peter Viggers.

He said the minister should meet the public before any planning application is made for the 400-bed centre at HMS Daedalus.

The announcement is being seen as a mini-victory for campaigners who also staged a rally and march attended by 8,000 people.

Mrs Hughes had previously promised that if the government went ahead with the centre public, meetings would be arranged which she would attend.

Now Mr Viggers is urging the minister to make her own visit sooner rather than later after she said a date would be fixed in consultation with Gosport council.

"It is imperative the government is aware of public feeling before a planning application is made," said Mr Viggers.

Chairman of the Daedalus Action Group John Beavis said: "We would be delighted for her to come to the site. We need answers."

A Home Office spokesman said there were no plans for Mrs Hughes' visit before Monday, when officials will announce whether they will go ahead with the centre.

In a separate development Gosport's Liberal Democrat group is calling for the resignation of Labour Councillor Keith Farr after he described asylum seekers as "scroungers" at a council meeting.

The Lib Dems are to report Cllr Farr to the Commission for Racial Equality and the Standards Committee.