RESIDENTS fighting plans for a development of 134 homes on land at Paxcroft Mead have formed an action group to strengthen their case at a public inquiry.

Developer Redrow Homes wants to build the properties on a plot of land at Halfway Cottage and Kenton Drive, known as area H8 in council papers, but lodged an appeal after West Wiltshire District Council rejected the plans.

The H8 plot and its allocation for housing has been the subject of scrutiny at the public inquiry into the District Plan, which concluded last month.

Councillors, on three committees, said a decision on the H8 plot would be premature until the outcome of the district plan inquiry was known.

With the inspector's report not due until March next year, Redrow Homes has now launched an appeal on its application which will be decided with a public inquiry in January.

Peter Collins, treasurer of the H8 Action Group, which represents residents in the east Trowbridge and Paxcroft Mead areas, said: "The action group do not regard the West Wiltshire District Council as being on their side.

"Permission was only refused on the grounds of prematurity, because the district plan public inquiry had not been completed. The council ignored the representations of the residents at the planning meeting on May 22, including a 462-signature petition against building on greenfield land which is not in the development plan for Paxcroft Mead."

Residents are also worried over access, which they say is only via the completed narrow estate roads.

Cllr Jeff Osborn, development portfolio holder at the council, said: "It is a question of whether you consider the land as part of the town or green space and open land.

"Some people are saying Paxcroft Mead is a rural village and this should be a rural buffer.

"Our policy has it as a housing allocation but the inspector could throw it out."

The issue was further complicated because council officers had recommended the plan for permission but the advice was overturned by councillors.

Cllrs Steve Oldrieve and Trevor Carbin have been looking at the area with residents.

Cllr Oldrieve said: "I was one of those against the residential scheme because the whole issue is going to be dealt with by the district plan inquiry.

"It was premature and there are also a lot of other concerns about the traffic issues which need looking at."

The H8 group has launched a campaign to raise £5,000 to pay for a planning lawyer to represent the group at the inquiry.

Nearly 1,200 leaflets have been distributed by volunteers around the area to help drum up support for the campaign.

Mr Collins said: "Legal representation at the public inquiry in January will ensure that all the factors will be heard."