16978RESIDENTS are taking legal advice in a desperate attempt to prevent three bungalows being built in a garden in their street.

About 40 letters were sent to West Wiltshire District Council opposing planning permission for the bungalows and a garage in the garden of 37 Southbrook Road, Melksham, as well as an access route into the development.

Permission for the project was refused by West Wiltshire District Council but granted on appeal on April 20.

Annette Benson, 52, a nursing sister, who lives next door to the planned access route in her home of 21 years, is paying for legal advice to appeal against the decision.

She said: "All but one resident in Southbrook Road opposed this development.

"My biggest fear is that a child is going to be killed on this road. The access route will be built on a bend and at least 50 George Ward School children walk up and down here every day.

"It's also going to devalue all our properties. It seems we will be losing out for somebody else's financial gain.

"These inspectorates seem the next best thing to God. If they have approved a development there's nothing you can do. It's quite a frightening prospect.

"We were convinced it would not go ahead because it had been turned down by Melksham Town Council and West Wiltshire District Council.

"When I heard it had got the go ahead I felt sick and at a total loss about how to go about dealing with it."

Angie Smith, 40, who owns Strictly His hairdressing salon, would overlook the new houses from her home on Addison Road, where she moved a year and a half ago.

She said: "I wouldn't have bought the house if I knew. I only bought it because it was so private. We have fought as hard as we can and now it means going to the solicitor."

In her appeal decision, planning inspector Jennifer Armstrong, from Bristol, said: "I do not believe that the proposal could be described as an over development.

"The site is not prominent in the street scene and its development would not be harmful to the established character of the area."

She thinks the single storey height of the bungalows would avoid any invasion of privacy and does not think enough traffic would be generated to alter conditions on Southbrook Road.

Cllr Vic Oakman said: "What is the point of us sitting on the planning panel when you go through the appeal process and then it can be allowed just like that by somebody who is out of the area?"