RESIDENTS living near the Hilperton Gap road could see their worst nightmare come true, as plans are already being laid to apply for permission to build up to 210 houses there.

Consultants Framptons plan to hold an exhibition to tell locals about their proposals to build houses on land to the south of Middle Lane, on the Wyke Road side of Elizabeth Way – only a few months after the road opened.

The exhibition will be held in a fortnight’s time, much to the dismay of residents and councillors.

Coun Ernie Clark, who represents Hilperton, was completely unaware of the public exhibition until the Wiltshire Times contacted him.

“I’m absolutely gobsmacked to hear about the development,” he added.

“We have had no consultation by Framptons and I doubt whether Hilperton Parish Council has been made aware of the proposal.

“It’s outrageous and merely a speculative fishing expedition by them. The land is not allocated for housing in the Core Strategy and it needs to be retained as a green space for the east of Trowbridge.”

Fellow councillor Steve Oldrieve, who headed the Hilperton Gap Action Group, reaffirmed his view that there should be no housing on the gap.

He added: “Of course this will be a development we will stand against and I am sure other members of the HGAG will agree with me and will make sure the exhibition is publicised so people can have their say.

“The gap is a significant green space with a horrible road going through it and the threat has always been that when the road was allowed, there would be a massive pressure to put houses on there. We have opportunities to build houses on the Ashton Park development and we do not want to lose such a significant area of green space here.”

Framptons said they are asking people what they think about a development that would be a mixture of family homes, both market and affordable.

They refused to comment any further but said an outline application would soon be formally submitted to Wiltshire Council, which was also unaware of the plans.

Residents came out in force to a protest on Wednesday, including Christine O’Doherty, 55, of Wyke Road, who said it would devastating if they went forward with plans. She said: “If they build on the land close to Wyke Road it will upset the water table and cause either hives, which will make the houses go up, or dry the land out, causing subsidence.

“It is the natural space between Trowbridge and Hilperton and we are just going to end up forming into one.

“If they did build this it is truly devastating for everything. I have five children who all used to play on those fields. It will just have a terrible knock-on for everything.”

The public exhibition will be held on February 16 between 3-8pm at The Fieldways Hotel, Hilperton Road.