TORY leader Toby Sturgis has narrowly won approval to build 30 homes in Great Somerford to help pay for his divorce settlement.

About 30 protesters watched North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee vote nine to eight in favour of Coun Sturgis's outline planning application last Wednesday night.

Members ruled the development must adhere to the 2001 local development plan.

The decision means that Coun Sturgis, 56, who was not at the meeting, can now sell four acres of his land at Brook Farm to a developer to build 30 houses, six of which would be low-cost.

Coun Sturgis, who is Tory leader on the district council, said that he had "bent over backwards" to do what the village wants.

But villagers who submitted 77 letters of objection and a petition of over 140 signatures say their widespread opposition was ignored.

Retired engineer Edward Evans from Frog Lane, Great Somerford, said: "The decision was clearly made on party political lines. The eight Conservative members voted in favour of it and almost all the Liberal Democrats were against it.

"I do not think officers or members listened to what we said. I believe there was an unconscious closing of ranks between officers and members which left the public out of the decision. We feel annoyed about being treated like little boys by the planning officers. There has been a patronising attitude to Great Somerford villagers."

Mr Evans added Coun Sturgis and a clique of other families had decided issues in the village for too long, and many residents felt disgruntled.

Fellow protestor Brian O'Donnell, from Frog Lane, said he was disappointed and surprised by the decision.

Mr O'Donnell said: "I really thought the arguments we put forward were sound and well based. We made sure all the district councillors were aware of our objections by writing to them and e-mailing them beforehand.

"We did not expect everyone to share our view but we did hope they would make an objective assessment.

He added: "We wanted to make sure the development is appropriate with the village. We were never totally opposed to it."

Mr O' Donnell said the protestors would closely scrutinise the developer's detailed planning application, when it comes before district councillors. "We have lost the battle but the war is what happens to the site," he said.

During the meeting, councillors recognised the issue had generated fears among villagers.

Liberal Democrat district councillor Patrick Goldstone pointed out that the development would increase the size of the village by 12.5 per cent.

He said: "Out of 243 houses in Great Somerford, they have got 140 signatures on a petition. That is impressive. Nobody in the village has spoken in favour of the application."

Meanwhile, Conservative district councillor Alison Bucknell supported the application. She said: "We have to be extremely clear about the planning reasons as the applicant is one of our own. This can be viewed in a positive light. We have had an opportunity to have some say about what is going on."

Coun Sturgis, who said last month he was selling the land to finance his divorce settlement, was disappointed about the protestors' attitude.

He said: "The attitude of villagers has been fuelled by misleading information. I have bent over backwards to do what the village wants. I could have put a planning application in for many more houses.

"A lot of people can be against a planning application but unless there is a policy reason, it is approved. Coun Goldstone did not put forward any planning reason to oppose it. The opposition here is about Nimbyism, not in my back yard."