HUNDREDS of people including children as young as seven have voiced their fierce opposition to a planned housing development on Bewdley farm land.

The closing date for representations to be made to Wyre Forest District Council on the application by property speculators Gladman Developments to build 195 homes on land off The Lakes Road passed last Thursday (October 20).

And planners were inundated with letters and emails from worried campaigners, residents and businesses in the town. Some objections came from further afield – with one even thought to have come from France.

Also among the representations received were letters and illustrations from Frankie Fradgley, aged nine, and his seven-year-old brother Henry who expressed concerns over the loss of the fields, increase to pollution and overcrowding of the school they go to.

Their concerns mirror those of the campaigners who formed the ‘Say No to Gladman’ group to fight the application.

A spokesman for Wyre Forest District Council confirmed they had received 550 representations, including letters from children and from people abroad.

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.

Say No to Gladman Chairman Rod Stanczyszyn said: “We have had hundreds of people of all age groups telling us that they have sent objection letters to WFDC.

“We know that they have come from not only from the local area but from as far as Lincoln and even France.

“Once again we have been delighted to receive such incredible support for our campaign to halt this unwanted and inappropriate application at the Lakes Road.”

Bewdley town councillor Philip Edmondson added: “Bewdley is such a potent community and has always made its opinion clear on matters that concern it.

“The Gladman's proposal is such that it has overwhelmed me the strength and veracity of public comment.

“On line, through the huge number of objections and even passing comments on the streets of our Town.

“It goes to show that Bewdley is shouting out a resounding no to Gladman's and the fight will continue until we have a satisfactory conclusion, no matter what.”

The group has also launched a fighting fund to pay for expert planning and legal advice should it be required. The page can be accessed at: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bewdley-says-no-to-gladman/

Collections are also being held at Hayden Estates, HR’s Bar and Bewdley Cobbler in Load Street and Riar News in The Lakes Road and Black Boy pub in Wyre Hill.