RESIDENTS battling a proposed Bewdley housing development have set up a dedicated website to cope with their fast growing campaign.

Bewdley Says No to Gladman was set up in the wake of plans put forward by property speculators Gladman Developments to build 195-homes on farm land off The Lakes Road.

But since launching in August, organisers say the campaign has grown at such a rate that a website has become essential.

It has been developed by retired software engineer and Bewdley resident Barry Maloy, who has spent more than 70 hours in total creating it.

The website features the group’s latest news, social media details, media coverage, details on how to support their campaign and links to other groups across the country that are fighting similar development proposals.

Gladman has declined to comment on their plans and the opposition to them when contacted by The Shuttle. But they have previously stated there is a need for more housing in Bewdley and that 59 of the properties would be affordable properties.

Mr Maloy said: “When we started the Bewdley says No to Gladman campaign beginning with a meeting in St Georges Hall back in August, we had no idea that we would gain so much support so quickly.

“This was evidenced by the astonishing attendance at that meeting which was then surpassed by the hands across the field event just a few days later.

“These successes, along with the growth of our Facebook group, Crowd funding appeal & twitter accounts made us realise that as we had to become more organised.

“A website would be an ideal way to present all the information for our supporters, or indeed anyone interested in our campaign, in a single place.”

He added he would be looking to improve and develop the website over the coming months.

Rod Stanczyszyn, chairman of Bewdley Says No to Gladman added: “We are delighted that we have someone like Barry who had produced such a useful means of showing our campaign to our supporters.

“In fact, our committee is full of people with a wealth of different skills and talents which will be needed in the coming months to combat this unwelcome and inappropriate application from Gladman.”

The website can be accessed by visiting http://bewdley-says-no-to-gladman.btck.co.uk/