CAMPAIGNERS fighting the scheme for more than 50 new homes in the Woolley area of Bradford on Avon hope the support their petition against the scheme has gained will mean more public consultation on the plans will be held after Christmas.

The community in Woolley and Woolley Grange has now submitted the petition to Bradford Town Council, with more than 250 signatures in support of the Bradford on Avon Neighbourhood Plan designation of the field next to Crown Court as local green space.

The community group, Friends of Woolley, has raised concerns about the proposed development and the level of community engagement by developers Redcliffe Homes since the announcement of the plans, saying that they don’t feel they have been given a say in the matter. After holding a public consultation for the plans to build up to 57 homes on the green space, Redcliffe has also offered to hold smaller meetings with selected members of the community.

Ollie Squires, a representative of Friends of Woolley, said: "These meetings have been proposed at very short notice, during the festive season, which is considered an inappropriate time to offer public consultations, and further supports our concern that Redcliffe are not prepared to fully engage with the community.”

The main concerns from the Friends of Woolley are that arranging these meetings around Christmas means people wouldn’t be able to attend. In recent weeks the community group has spoken out about the way they are being addressed by the housing developer, feeling that the plan doesn’t consider their opinions. At the start of the campaign, a number of leaflets were distributed around Bradford on Avon, but the Friends say only a few found their way to the residents of Woolley.

John Pearce, who lives in Woolley Street, said: "To avoid discriminating against members of the community that have not been notified or did not have an opportunity to raise concerns due to the haphazard distribution of Redcliffe's leaflets. We feel Redcliffe must have a full public consultation at a mutually convenient time after the festive season."

The group have been vocal in supporting the Neighbourhood Plan and all agree that the development would not be suitable for the plans and would also disturb the open land.