RESIDENTS affected by the proposed new housing estate planned for land between Quakers Walk and police headquarters in Devizes have been invited to a public consultation event later this month.

Some 400 households in the Roundway Park area have received letters from Consensus, a private consultancy firm retained by estate agents Carter Jonas, who are acting on behalf of the landowners, the Society of Merchant Venturers.

The land has been allocated in the Kennet District Local Plan for up to 230 houses, plus a new primary school and recreation areas. Many people in the town are concerned that the development will lead to unsustainable traffic congestion on London Road while others say the new housing will affect the wildlife that lives around the ancient footpath of Quakers Walk.

The exhibition at Devizes Cadet Centre beside Le Marchant Barracks, itself earmarked for housing development, will take place on January 22 between 10am and 4pm.

Mark Crosby, senior partner in Consensus, said that he was aware of the local opposition to the development but the purpose of the consultation was neither to debate the decision to allocate the land for housing nor to persuade or cajole local people into accepting it.

The exhibition will display various options for the design and layout of the housing, the location of the primary school, boundary treatment and security and traffic access to the site, as well as cycle and pedestrian links.

Jennie Harrison of Roundway Park said: "There are many aspects of the development that cause me concern. They will need to put in street lights and that will disturb the birds in Quakers Walk. A jack snipe, a rare wading bird, has been seen."

The close proximity of the police helicopter pad also causes concern. If the development goes ahead and residents object to the helicopter going over their homes, it may have to be relocated elsewhere in the county.

Mr Crosby said they hoped to complete the first stage of the consultation by the middle of February.