A COUPLE fear their family home could become a nightmare if 235 houses are built on land nearby, because they will be at constant risk of flooding.

Andrea and Ian Perks, who live in Mallory Place, Bowerhill, whose garden borders the proposed development between Western Way and Bath Road, fought against the new estate when another planning application was put in back in 2014.

Then property developers Mactaggart & Mickel put in an application for 255 homes, which it withdrew only to resubmit the current plans with an additional primary school.

School teacher Mrs Perks, 44, said: “The field has drainage ditches around the edge. If they are going to build then obviously that will cause flooding and it was seen as the reason not to build on it.

“The site will increase pressures on the town, on infrastructure, it is a flood risk, the land they are building on is a through way for deer and there will be no space between the two towns.

“That area also has tailbacks. Recent road works there really obstructed the traffic and showed that the infrastructure could not take it.

“They have changed a few little things like removing 20 homes and putting in a primary school, but then where do those children go to secondary school?

“We know that they have to build houses but this particular site just cannot cope with it. They have already put so many new homes into Melksham.”

Mactaggart & Mickel submitted an application on February 4 to build up to 235 homes and a new primary school, with early years provision, on land either side of Pathfinder Way, next to the Spa Road roundabout.

Other residents living close to the development have also raised their concerns with eight letters in protest sent to the council.

Mrs Perks, a mother-of-three, added: “The problem we are finding is that there was a lot of opposition the first time around.

“It was being refused but the company then pulled it at the last minute which meant they can put it in again as a proposal and did not have to wait the normal period.

“The council did not contact as many people as the first time, I would say around half the residents of Mallory Place.

“This meant that not everyone was aware and the company only needs to resubmit and try again.”

To see and comment on the full plans enter reference 16/01123/OUT in the planning search at the website www.wiltshire.gov.uk.