CONTENTIOUS plans for a 152-home estate in Melksham Forest will be discussed by town and parish councillors next month.

Residents have already voiced their opposition to the plan for homes on land next to Woodrow Road, which locals say is prone to flooding. They also claim any development would cause traffic and wildlife problems.

So many people want to have a say on the matter that the parish council meeting, on August 8 at 7pm, has been moved from the Melksham Without Parish Council Offices to the larger Forest Community Centre.

“It is disgraceful what they are doing,” said Sue Carter, who has started a Facebook campaign: Woodrow Road Building Houses on our Field.

“They ignored our petition and they do not care what we think, despite some of us, like me, living here for 40 years.”

“The field only has one farm gate exit which goes onto a very narrow road full of heavy traffic and horses go along there too. To have one exit for 150 odd houses is not feasible and there is nowhere else to exit. I phoned several insurance companies and they said they have to check if there is a flood risk before going ahead with anything. I have photographic evidence proving it floods every winter.

“We have massive concerns about this but they do not seem interested. What is encouraging however is how over 100 people are involved in this and are researching ways to strengthen our case in opposition to this.

“This is an excellent opportunity to air our views and turn out in force.”

The plan has been put forward by Amethyst Planning on behalf of their clients Waddeton Park Ltd. A petition against it has already collected more than 250 signatures.

Even though the houses fall outside the town boundary, Melksham Town Council will discuss the proposal on August 15 and represent people living in the Forest Road area.

The parish council’s clerk Teresa Strange said: “As we are expecting a lot of people we have moved to a different venue.”

She added that the Melksham Without Parish Council only represents people who live in the parish which includes parts of Woodrow Road, but not the lower part that joins Forest Road, Meadow Road, Forest Road, or Lincoln Green.

To make comments to Wiltshire Council’s planning department visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk with the reference number 16/05644/OUT. 

Hard copies of the planning application are available from the parish council offices in Market Place and from the Town Hall.