RESIDENTS have formed a group to fight plans to build hundreds of homes north of Witney.

Developers Gleeson Strategic Land (GSL) and Taylor Wimpey propose building 1,400 homes on land off of Hailey Road.

Included in the plans are a West End link road, new schools and flood defences.

The site was earmarked for development in West Oxfordshire District Council’s draft local plan.

The North Witney Action Group has been formed to fight the scheme.

Hailey Parish Council chairman David Musson said 1,400 homes would mean another 3,000 cars in the town.

And he doubted whether plans to ease traffic congestion, including the proposed West End link road, would be able to cope.

Concerns over flooding have also been raised.

Helen Midwinter-Morten, of New Yatt Road, said the plans needed “radically rethinking”.

She said: “Other options for development may be less obvious, more challenging and less easy, but in the end they will produce housing that benefits both town and country, enhancing rather than degrading both urban and rural communities.”

Neighbour Dee Frith said: “It would open the door for a wide swathe of urban sprawl.

“As Witney grows, it is increasingly important that it develops and keeps a protected Green Belt around it.”

But Colin Dingwall, chairman of Crawley Parish Council, said that the development was the only chance to get important infrastructure in the town, such as the West End link road. A petition in favour is circulating in Crawley.

He said: “Failure to secure this development will see no funding for desperately needed infrastructure projects, leaving the areas involved suffering congestion, pollution, flooding and the whole of Witney incapable of getting from south to north of the river for at least the next 20 years.”

Ian Morrow, district council head of planning and sustainable communities, said people should make their views known.

He added: “No decision as to where development should be has been reached.”

GSL managing director Scott Chamberlin, said: “The proposed scheme and initiatives will greatly enhance not only the infrastructure but also improve living, working and social conditions in a highly sustainable development.

“We believe that our proposal will deliver many positives which are greatly needed by Witney residents.”

People have until Monday to comment on the proposals at westoxon.gov.uk/ planning/corestrategy.cfm