DETERMINED protestors against a proposed housing development on countryside land in Bewdley have stepped up their campaigning in light of a planning application being submitted.

The ‘Say No to Gladman’ group delivered 5,000 leaflets in 48 hours and has raised more than £2,000 for their fight against plans to build 195 homes on land off Lakes Road.

Gladman Developments has now submitted its outline planning application for the proposal to Wyre Forest District Council.

But the proposal drew fierce criticism from Bewdley residents, businesses and councillors weeks before this submission over concerns that it would ruin the town’s landscape value, add to existing traffic and pollution problems, increase pressure on services such as schools and the new medical centre.

Property speculators Gladman Developments has declined to speak to The Shuttle about the plan or the protests but have previously stated that more housing is required in Bewdley and that 59 of them would be affordable.

In its application, the company also said that it would make contributions to the relevant authorities for any impact the development would have on highways, schools and air quality that might occur.

Rod Stanczyszyn, chairman of the Say No to Gladman group, said: "The campaign committee were anticipating an early application from this aggressive planning company.

“We had our leaflet design ready and a local print company did the 5000 print run in less than 48 hours.

“The next day saw the counting and allocating of leaflets into rounds, then it was down to our magnificent group of volunteers who have delivered to most of the properties in Bewdley in just three days. We can't thank those people enough."

He added that the Crowdfunding page, set up to raise £10,000 to pay for specialist legal and planning advice, has raised almost £2,400. People can access it by visiting http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bewdley-says-no-to-gladman/

People can have their say on the proposal by visiting Wyre Forest District Council’s planning page and searching for application number 16/0550/OUTL.