FAMILIES opposed to the number of homes proposed on the St John's School lower site in Marlborough are planning to take their fight all the way to Whitehall.

On Tuesday they resolved to ask the office of the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to call-in the planning application for a public inquiry.

The long held vision of the two halves of St John's School being united on one site depends on the sale of the 13-acre site in Chopping Knife Lane for housing.

The school's partnership developer, Crest Nicholson, has now submitted a planning application for 178 homes. These range from one bed room flats to five bedroom houses, with 44 affordable homes and 30 low cost starter homes.

Families living in the Chopping Knife Lane and Barnfield area believe the scheme is too big and should be limited to the "about 150 homes" stipulated by a planning inspector at an inquiry into the local plan three years ago.

Members of the St John's Neighbourhood Residents' Association, which met to discuss the Crest Nicholson scheme on Tuesday, expressed concern at the proposal to leave the present junction of Chopping Knife Lane with London Road untouched.

Several said they believed the homes would create far more traffic than the school, leading to gridlock.

One resident said the plans appeared to show homes crammed onto the site and added: "It looks a bit like a rabbit warren."

Crest Nicholson is putting its plans on show at St John's School in Chopping Knife Lane on February 24 and 25 between 5pm and 8pm and on February 26 from 10am to 4pm.