Developers hoping to build new homes on the site of the former Slaughterford paper mill say they would protect the land, not ruin it.

The plans include a £1 million project to clean up the rural site, which the devlopers claim is contaminated with soil and groundwater from its former industrial use,

The developer wants to build either nine or 14 energy-efficient, solar powered Cotswold stone cottages which would be partially constructed from reclaimed materials.

Rainwater would be recycled and recycling bins provided in each garage.

The developer, Countryside Properties, claims that work on the weir would reduce the risk of flooding in the village.

And it says the conversion of the existing Chapps Farmhouse and its outbuildings would greatly improve views previously blighted by derelict industrial buildings.

In addition, the developer would give six acres of woodland on the site's fringes to the Woodland Trust and create a purpose-built bat roost for the protected lesser horseshoe bat.

In 2001, Countryside Properties was thwarted in its bid to build new homes on the site of the old Dowding Paper Mill following protests by angry residents.

But that has not put the firm off and last week it submitted two new planning applications to North Wiltshire County Council for either nine or 14 new homes.

Clive Buckley, the development director for Countryside Properties' South West division, said: "The remedial measures will result in a safe and greatly improved environment for occupiers of the new development, existing local residents and wildlife."

The applications followed two years of detailed consultations with the Environment Agency, English Nature and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, as well as Ford Fisheries and the Woodland Trust.

Mr Buckley said that both applications outlined ecological strategies to support a wide range of species including breeding birds, otters, badgers, reptiles and white-clawed crayfish.

But residents are incensed by the applications and say they are prepared to do battle again, to make sure new homes are not built in their village.

Alison Butler said: "We are all geared up and ready for action to fight these new applications. The simple fact is that Slaughterford does not need or want the changes the developers are proposing.

"For one, the road system here is just not equipped to cope with this development.

"These are single track roads with few passing places and they could not sustain the building work or the new traffic that this development would bring.

"We are not objecting to this development just to be difficult.

"There is legislation in place which states that Slaughterford should not be subject to this kind of development whether it is pretty or not.

"We feel that we are guardians of a very special area and we are committed to fighting these plans and that is what we intend to do."

North Wiltshire District Council is holding a special discussion day at Biddestone Parish Hall on Saturday from 11am-3pm. Officers will be on hand to guide the public through the plans and record their opinions.