RESIDENTS of Urchfont, near Devizes, have united in opposition against plans to replace a derelict farmyard in the centre of the village with housing.

About 50 residents turned up to a meeting of the parish council's planning committee last Wednesday night to object to plans submitted by Charles Church Homes to build 14 homes at Manor Farm Yard beside the famous village duck pond.

Villagers say the development would destroy the heart of the village.

On a previous planning application, the number of homes proposed was 24, but following discussions between the developers, planners at Kennet District Council and parish councillors, an alternative scheme was put forward.

As well as a reduction in the number of homes, the developers have offered a site for a village shop, a duck house and a parking place for the Urchfont Community Bus. But for many at last week's meeting, concerns over the increase in traffic and unrestricted parking in the picturesque village centre remain over-riding.

However, resident Paul Bancroft told the meeting he had objected to the original scheme but was in a mind to support the new proposals.

He said: "The reduction in the number of houses from 24 to 14 is a substantial compromise and it is good to see a community shop, parking for the bus and a safe refuge for the ducks included.

"We need to get rid of this eyesore and there has to be a profit motive for a developer to help us do this. After all, it is not public land."

General John Page, who also lives in the village, was concerned about where customers for the shop were going to park and the fact that there were no affordable homes planned for the site.

David Fruen, a former parish council chairman, said he liked the concept of building the development to look like a working farmyard but was concerned about the lack of detail on the plan.

He said: "There is not one single dimension on those drawings.

"We don't want a repeat of what happened in Market Lavington recently."

He is thought to be referring to the redevelopment of Knapp Farm Yard, where the roof height of the buildings ended up a metre higher than was planned and the buildings were several metres closer to neighbouring buildings than expected.

Other residents at the meeting commented that the density of housing was still too high for the site and should be restricted to ten homes.

There was also concern about the proposal to narrow the entrance to Friars Lane, which goes down the side of the site.

It was noted that, although the number of houses had been reduced, the area covered by the scheme is exactly the same as before.

Following the public session, councillors detailed their misgivings about the new scheme.

Coun Peter Newell said the parish council needed to be in control of the wall separating the pond from the site and a strip of land on the other side of the wall so that drainage work to the pond could be carried out without asking permission of the landowner.

The comments of residents and councillors will be passed on to Kennet District Council's planning department. No date has yet been set for the meeting when councillors will determine the plan.

lcowen@newswilts.co.uk