The plan was attacked from all angles by more than 100 people who filled the council's meeting room.

One of the hot items raised was the planners' proposal for the council to buy the Grasso family home in Brindisi Street and demolish it for a new peripheral road, linking Brindisi Street to Balcombe Road to take traffic away from Mentone Parade and Florence Street (The Independent, 8/6/10).

The Grassos have lived in the house for 61 years.

A passionate Mrs Grasso told the meeting the council would take her home away "over my dead body".

"I'm a bit suspicious about why they left it so late to tell me about what they want to do our home," she said. "I understand the plans had been completed for printing in February."

Ward councillors Rosemary West, Ron Brownlees and Lewis Dundas each told the meeting they had no prior knowledge of the proposed acquisition. Each said they would oppose it if it ever came before the council.

There were many at the meeting who were baffled that the plan said almost nothing about fixing one of Mentone's major traffic headaches – the intersection of Balcombe Road and Como Parade West.

Their bewilderment increased when they were told the council's traffic consultants had not asked VicRoads if it had plans to deal with traffic problems at the intersection and the railway crossing.

Although the draft strategy identifies Balcombe Road and Como Parade West as a place of "traffic conflict", all it mentions is "the possibility of introducing alternate traffic signal treatments at Balcombe Road both at the existing roundabout and at the proposed entry to the new peripheral road network".

The proposal to turn Old Bakery Lane and Granary Lane into outdoor cafe strips and restrict non essential vehicular traffic to after hours, was unpopular with traders who rely on trucks and vans for deliveries.

There were a few wry smiles about Mentone becoming a cafe society: several have closed down recently.

There was also concern about the proposal to move Mentone Bowling Club from the corner of Swanston and Collins Street to Remo Street and use the bowling club land for open space.

The traders will meet again on Monday, June 28, to discuss a joint submission to the council.

Submissions for the draft Mentone activity centre structure plan close on Friday, July 9. Copies are on view at the council's Cheltenham and Mentone service centres and Parkdale and Cheltenham libraries.