HUNDREDS of people have united to oppose plans for a housing development in Wotton-under-Edge, prompting the council to extend the deadline for public comments.

Huge numbers of residents and councillors have lodged their objections to developer Oxford Law’s plan for 25-homes at Holywell Farm.

With such a public outcry over the proposal, Stroud District Council (SDC) has pushed the consultation deadline back to October 12.

Wotton-under-Edge town councillors will give their views on the application at a meeting on Monday, with the fact the land is not in SDC’s Local Plan for housing development expected to be at the forefront of their reasons for objecting. 

District councillor for Wotton Catherine Braun said: “The site is not identified for development in the Local Plan and is outside the boundary of permitted development. 

“The site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, visible along the Cotswold Way and surrounding hills. 

“The proposal for access would turn Court Orchard from a quiet cul-de-sac into a busy through route for vehicles and compound traffic problems in the town as well as making the junction at Court Orchard and Synwell Lane more hazardous.”

Save Holywell Farm Action Group was formed in response to the plans and has been delivering leaflets and posters to homes near the proposed site.

Members have hit out at a ‘lack of consultation’ by the developer.

Action group member Julia Fry, whose house overlooks the site, will display her paintings of views of the meadow at Holywell and the valley beyond at the town’s arts and craft trail next weekend.

“I have taken part in the art trail for the last four or five years and people have always enjoyed coming to have a look at the paintings but also to look out at the inspiration for what I’ve done, which is the countryside here,” she told the Gazette.

“What we’ve seen with the number of objections to this application is the people of Wotton becoming really concerned about the loss of the town’s green space which makes it what it is.

“It has meant a great deal to us to have so much support in our campaign with so many people acknowledging how unsuitable this development is.”

Members of the action group will attend the town council meeting at 7pm on Monday.

Nobody from Oxford Law was available to comment when approached by the Gazette.

Wotton Arts & Crafts Trail takes place on October 1 and 2 from 10am-4pm.

For more information email wottoncrafttrail@gmail.com