Keep our fields green, say homes protesters

More than 1,000 new houses are being proposed for land in Chipping Sodbury under a scheme put forward by developers.

Open fields to the east of St John's Way are under threat from the proposal, which also includes a business park, new shops, a GP surgery and other community buildings. A primary school could also be built.

But a campaign against the development has already been started involving local councillors and Northavon MP, Steve Webb.

They said such a plan would have a big impact on roads and the environment, as well as causing further flooding problems.

It is thought the proposal is another test of the yet-to-be finalised controversial regional spatial strategy for the South West, under which South Gloucestershire could have to find land for nearly 33,000 houses up to 2026.

The blueprint has been held up as the result of a legal challenge over a similar document for the east of England but countryside campaigners fear it already carries some weight.

Those opposing the Chipping Sodbury proposal said if allowed, the number of houses in the town would increase by 50 per cent.

Town councillor Adrian Rush said: "There are currently just over 2,000 houses in Chipping Sodbury so this is over the top.

"It would go right up to the edge of the Cotswolds' Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would have a disastrous impact on the countryside.

"It seems to be open season for developers. A lot of things are coming forward in places where you wouldn't normally expect them."

Mr Webb said: "House building on this scale will have a devastating effect on the community and environment.

"Residents already suffer problems with flooding and this development would make matters much worse.

"Local roads cannot cope with the strain of at least 1,000 more cars and, in the absence of a decent public transport system, there will be gridlock on roads through Yate and Sodbury."

Chipping Sodbury councillor Linda Boon said: "The environmental impact of the new development is particularly serious and could have catastrophic consequences for residents by exacerbating the already serious problem of flooding in the area."

No housebuilder has been named and no planning application yet submitted but the proposal has been put forward by developers at Maximus Strategic Land for farmland to the east of the river Frome that runs alongside St John's Way.

The proposed development would run up to the edge of Sodbury Common to the north and close to the Cotswold Way to the east.