ANGRY residents in Bradford on Avon joined forces on Tuesday night objecting to a proposed home for people with mental health problems.

There was standing room only at the town council's planning meeting in the old town hall as more than 30 people begged councillors to reject a planned home for the mentally ill on an area of wasteland in Poulton.

District councillors have recommended an application by West Wiltshire Housing Society to build purpose-built flats for low-level mental health sufferers be approved, but residents say the society has not consulted them adequately.

A Trowbridge Road resident said: "There are small children, teenagers and other kids who would go past that area and it wouldn't be safe. It is not a suitable place for lunatics with lots and lots of problems.

"What about paedophiles, why aren't the residents here allowed to know where all the paedophiles live in Bradford on Avon?"

Other residents were upset the society had not consulted them properly.

A Poulton resident said: "The only people who knew about the meeting were the people with children at Fitzmaurice School who got a letter sent home with their kids one day.

"It seems like it's all been swept under the carpet at a very appropriate time of year when other people are thinking about Christmas."

Town and county councillor Malcolm Hewson said: "West Wiltshire Housing Society has only itself to blame."

Although councillors were keen to hear residents' views, planning committee chairman, Priscilla Roberts, said it could only comment on the application in terms of planning law.

Cllr Minna Gillham said: "It's hard to know how we can reject the application. It's not in the conservation area so we can't reject it on those grounds. The only thing we can do is ask for more information."

"West Wiltshire Housing Society must hold another public consultation. It must publicise the meeting and come prepared to explain the proposals. It must expect a sceptical audience of local people who believe in my view, rightly that they have been kept in the dark."

A spokesman for West Wiltshire Housing Society said: "It's quite ignorant to brand these people and say they will be a danger to society."