RESIDENTS in Long Buckby have been encouraged to write letters in the fight against a new housing development.
The comments were made at a public meeting held at the Community Centre in Station Road to discuss an application against 107 homes near to the train station.
Around 100 villagers attended the meeting held on Wednesday last week with many against the plans which included an extended car park at the train station and a revamped booking office.
Villager John Christie said: “A lot of people in this village do not want this development, there were 98 per cent of people who are against the plans.”
Concerns were raised about the increase in traffic that would come as a result of the development.
Norman Tomlin said: “There are 4,500 people currently living in Long Buckby and there will be 400 new people coming into the village if this scheme gets the go-ahead.
“There would be a lot more cars in the village and it is already too crowded.”
Long Buckby Parish Council has written to Daventry District Council (DDC) opposing the plans saying it is outside the village confines, there would be no room for extra patients at the village’s medical centre or for any more pupils from the village to go to Guilsborough School as it is oversubscribed.
The council is also against the loss of green space separating the village from the railway station caused by the plans.
People at the meeting asked if a village green application could be submitted, which if successful, would prevent any development on the site. This request is due to be explored at a parish council meeting held at the library on Tuesday.
It is the second time the village has fought plans for new homes. DDCs planning committee last month turned down an application for 132 homes on Station Road.
Chairman of Long Buckby Parish Council Steve Osborne said: “I would like to thank all of the people who helped to fight the application last time around. The letters that people sent in and the amount of people we had going to the meeting was very helpful in getting this application turned down.
“I would urge people to do the same as last time to fight this development.”
Fellow councillor Mark Osborne also urged people to write to the MP for the area Chris Heaton Harris.
Anyone wishing to object to the plans can do so by emailing Eamon McDowell on emcdowell@daventrydc.gov.uk or writing to DDC.
The decision will be made at a future meeting of the council’s planning committee.