THE Ham Area Residents' Association is poised to jump into action following a planning application to build 65 new houses on one of the few green sites left in that area of Westbury.

Local representative Joyce Smith stressed that a meeting to decide what objections exist to the proposal has not yet been held, but added: "It's making a number of the residents understandably unhappy."

One of the main objections raised by Mrs Smith is the inclusion of a new access road on to The Ham.

She said: "The Ham road already carries a vast volume of industrial and commuter traffic. I feel to put even more accesses on to a road that is already overloaded is just asking for trouble."

The other main worry is over the apparent lack of recreation areas on the site, particularly for older children.

The residents' association, like others in Westbury and its surrounding villages, is already campaigning to try to get better facilities for older children in the area.

Police, local councillors and people living in and around Westbury are becoming increasingly concerned by the number of teenagers who hang around the streets of the town, seemingly with nothing to do and nowhere to go.

Sgt Simon Dicks, of Westbury police, confirmed: "We receive regular complaints from residents and shopkeepers in the town centre regarding youth crime."

"Better facilities in and around Westbury would draw kids out of the town centre."

Developers, in this case Westbury Homes, are required to provide a play area for younger children, but not for teenagers.

A spokesman for Westbury Homes said that the application was still in the early stages.