Bentley Grove resident Tony Bott showing the two houses which Syms and Sons wants to knock down (16312/1)GAZETTE & HERALD: ANGRY residents say plans to knock down two houses in Bentley Grove and replace them with ten new ones are unacceptable and should be sent back to the drawing board.

Syms and Sons wants to demolish the existing homes at 17 and 18 Bentley Grove to make way for two new terraces and a detached house.

But people living nearby say they'd prefer to see just four or six homes, rather than squeezing in ten.

North Wiltshire planners were due to make a decision on the controversial plans last night after the scheme was recommended for approval.

Coun John Ireland said: "People are very annoyed. The proposed site is at the very end of Bentley Grove and if you take the average of two cars per household as the norm, the proposal of ten dwellings will increase the parking problems in this area beyond choking point.

"The area cannot be reached by refuse vehicles now, so imagine what this increase in vehicles will do. It will seriously hamper access by emergency vehicles, which could well prove fatal in a medical or fire emergency.

"The town council has turned this down twice now but each time the developer comes back with an amended plan."

The original proposal submitted was for 14 houses, but following negotiations with officers it was changed to ten.

The homes would all be three storey with two parking spaces.

Calne Town Council said extra traffic, inappropriate access and the fear that nearby Anchor Road would become a rat run were all reasons to say no to the proposal.

Fifteen letters of objection have been sent to the district council, citing safety problems, access, loss of privacy and over development of the site as major problems.

Resident Tony Bott was so concerned he organised a petition with 45 signatures. "I think there's about a 95 per cent opposition to this," he said. "If they had suggested a sensible number of houses nobody would have objected. But this is a crazy idea.

"We are extremely worried. We've thrown just about everything we can at North Wiltshire District Council. All we can do now is hope.

"The residents of Bentley Grove feel that this is going to be an intrusion of their privacy, more cars on an already difficult road not to mention the fact that all the hedges will be ripped up. Everyone is against it."

Lesley Williams said: "Both houses have a fair bit of land with them but to try and squash ten houses in is still ridiculous. At the end of the day we are a grove with only one way in and one way out.

"Everyone is worried that our peace will be disturbed. Lots of people moved to the area with young children because it's safe and quiet and we've got a few old couples here as well."

Mrs Williams' husband, Richard, said: "Our house backs on to the proposed properties so we obviously feel strongly that the construction process and the increased traffic will have a very negative effect on our home. The noise and disruption would make our home, which is currently a safe environment for our daughter, intolerable.

"Anchor Road and Bentley Grove are currently quiet, safe, community based, child friendly places to live. Multiple construction lorries simply do not belong here."