MEMBERS of a campaign group fighting a planning application which could increase Southwick by 100 homes think Wiltshire Council is keeping them in dark.

The application to build on land south of Blind Lane was submitted to Wiltshire Council by Redrow Homes on December 19, but residents were only notified on Thursday (January 12), leaving them with less time to submit their objections.

John Eaton, chairman of Save Our Southwick, which formed when plans of the development were first announced, is angry that it took nearly a month for residents to be notified and is worried about how the increase in housing could affect the village.

He said: “There’s been no transparency from Wiltshire Council.

“We have been given a restricted timeframe in which to submit our responses to the application; we feel like we have been kept in the dark.

“If the application is approved it will increase the size of the village by a third and Redrow also have a concept plan for an additional 175 homes on top.

“There’s no real demand for it. We have already filled our quota for housing, most recently with the 50 houses which were built on the brownfield Mowlem site a few years ago.

“In addition to that it will add to the ongoing traffic problem, create noise pollution and rip out the heart of the village.”

The consultation expiry on the application is Friday, February 10 and Wiltshire Council hopes to have made a decision by Monday, March 20.

MP Dr Andrew Murrison also has concerns about the proposed development.

He said: “I object to this development as it involves building on our countryside and will degrade the integrity of Southwick as a village.

“It will also reduce the green space which people who live in that area enjoy using.

“I am in favour of building on brownfield sites before conceding our countryside and I strongly object to West Wiltshire expecting to accommodate an unfair share of Wiltshire’s housing allocation.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “Letters about this application were sent to neighbours last week, giving people more than the required 21 days to respond.

“An advert for this application will also be published this week in the Wiltshire Times and site notices will be put up shortly all asking for comments to be received by February 10.

“There is still plenty of time for people to send their comments, but anyone who needs more time can contact the planning officer via Developmentmanagement@wiltshire.gov.uk to see if this can be arranged.”

To submit a comment on the planning application, search for 16/12279/OUT on Wiltshire Council’s website.