RESIDENTS in Slaughterford, near Chippenham, are gearing up to fight another application by Countryside Residential to build houses in the village.

The developers want to transform the derelict Dowding Paper Mill on the banks of the By Brook into 17 luxury homes three more than in its previous application, turned down on appeal following an 11-day public inquiry at the end of last year.

It is the fifth time the firm has tried to build houses on the site.

It said it plans to build on 30 per cent of the site, with the remaining 70 per cent becoming a nature area.

Campaigners say any development is not welcome and will ruin the hamlet.

"Everyone in the village, young and old, is amazed and astonished they have come back with another plan so soon," said John Perkins, 86, of The Old Brewery House, Slaughterford.

"We will write to the Environment Agency and in six weeks we will be presenting a case to the council.

"We want a public inquiry into this."

Mr Perkins has co-ordinated previous opposition to housing on the derelict site and said campaigners are chiefly concerned with sewage which could filter in to the By Brook.

He added people are concerned the land has been identified by the Environment Agency as a flood plain.

Countryside Residential said it will have a sewage treatment plant on site but it will be safe and controlled by Wessex Water.

It said Chapps Farm House will be retained under the project, and a bat roost will be made, with passing bays improved on roads in to the village.

Matthew Gough, Countryside Residential's land director, said: "Cleaning up this derelict site will result in a high quality, well designed and carefully detailed scheme ensuring no harm to the village and no adverse affect on its local character."

MP James Gray, a Slaughterford resident, backed the villagers in opposing the plans.

"It is totally wrong and I hope it will be turned down," he said.