PROPOSALS for 1,500 homes to be built on green belt land in Coalpit Heath were met with opposition.

AroundAbout 160 visitors came to view the initial concepts at a public consultation at Coalpit Heath’s Village Hall on Monday.

Residents were able to talk with planning and transport officers about some of the details in the proposals.

The process aimed to get public input to help set the priorities for the plans to build homes on farmland in the area east of Roundways Road and in the vicinity of Frog Lane Farm.

The Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) is part of a wider plan for growth in the region set out by the South Gloucestershire Council and other West of England councils – North Somerset, Bristol City, and Bath and North East Somerset.

They plan to build up to 105,000 new homes across this region by 2036. Around 66,000 new homes have already been planned for by the councils in response to what they regard as an acute need to deliver new homes over the next 20 years.

Plans for homes to be provided in Coalpit Heath failed to receive support from those in attendance who feel that the area does not have the infrastructure to sustain the development.

Matt Flook, a railway construction worker from Coalpit Heath, said: “It was purely a tick-box exercise for the council to say the public were consulted. No provisions have been made for services and businesses which rely on access to the area.”

The area has been identified on council plans as having potential due to: “Good proximity to employment opportunities and other services in the North and North East Bristol fringe.”

Mr Flook objected: “The road is already overused with cars and lorries.”

His wife said that transport services in the area were already poor, adding: “The weekends are the worst for trains and buses, often there are no services at all.”.

Mr Flook added: “We moved here on the basis that there was the green belt. What’s the point in this if they are going to build on it anyway?”

Resident Mike Clark, who works from home in Roundways next to the proposed developments, said: “It’s a small village here, a way of life. Beside where I stay there are fields and dog walkers, it’s a very peaceful place. “If they dump 1,500 houses here as part of their strategy, I’d literally move, the infrastructure and traffic is already horrendous.”

Another resident who didn’t wish to be named said: “I’ve lived here all of my life but I’d move if it goes ahead.”

In the JSP’s draft, provision has also been made for Thornbury to take on 600 additional houses, and 2,200 houses have been designated for Buckover, and 1,000 have been identified in Charfield.

A council spokesman said: “We want to make sure that as a region we have the homes, employment opportunities and the transport network to allow our growing population to get the best from living here.”

He said that feedback would be taken on board as part of this stage of the consultation process.

More information and the chance opportunity to complete a consultation response online are available at jointplanningwofe.org.uk.