RESIDENTS who are objecting to the Elm Grove Farm housing estate proposals are being urged to attend a protest rally on Saturday (February 8).

The gathering has been called by Trowbridge town Cllr Antonio Piazza, a Conservative Party councillor for the Drynham ward.

It will take place at 8am at the back of KFC, at the corner of the roundabout, and the top of Drynham Lane.

Cllr Piazza said on local social media: “Join us as we rally together to protest about the Elm Grove development.

“Share your thoughts with your local MP and councillor. We’ll also be signing a letter to send to the developers and Wiltshire Council.”

Cllr Andrew Bryant, the Wiltshire Council unitary ward member for Drynham, said: “I don’t know anything about it. He has obviously decided to stir things up and make a name for himself.

"He has certainly not informed me or Cllr Denise Bates (the Liberal Democrat town councillor for Drynham).”

Colston Estates wants to build 270 new homes on the 41-acre site. The company has been unable to obtain access from Plot 4 off the A363 near the junction with Drynham Lane.

The protest rally follows a meeting at a private home in Trowbridge last Friday organised by Cllr Piazza.

The meeting was attended by South West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison and around 20 concerned locals, as well as representatives from Elm Grove Farm developers Colston Estates Ltd.

Dr Murrison said: "The meeting was well organised and there must have been around 20 residents there.

"They have accepted that the land will be developed but there is an issue around the main road that will be going through the site.

"The developer appeared to be listening and appeared to be sympathetic to their concerns, which gives me confidence that we will be able to find a way forward."

Dr Murrison is visiting the Turkish capital Ankara as part of his role as Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

Dr Murrison said he was not sure at this stage whether he would be able to attend the rally on Saturday because of his ministerial duties.

He added: "I will try to make it if I can, as the Elm Grove Farm housing development is a significant issue for a number of local people."

Trowbridge Town Council recently registered its formal objection to the scheme on transport and access grounds.

The council is not against the scheme in principle because the Elm Grove Farm site is allocated for housing in the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocation Plan.

The council says the proposals will generate more traffic on the A363 Bradley Road and lead to increased congestion and delays.

The town council is also concerned the only access point for the proposed Elm Grove Farm development is currently off Wiltshire Drive.

Cllr Bryant has called in the planning application for discussion by Wiltshire’s Strategic Planning Committee, rather than by officers making an executive decision to approve or refuse.

He is concerned that part of the site is on a flood plain and that it will affect the green buffer zone between North Bradley and Trowbridge.

More than 2,500 new homes are scheduled to be built at Ashton Park and a further 200-plus homes between North Bradley and the White Horse Business Park in Trowbridge.