FURIOUS campaigners against a controversial Bewdley housing plan have vowed to fight on against the company behind the proposal.

Last week, The Shuttle revealed how Gladman Developments told Wyre Forest District Council of their intention to lodge an appeal against the non-determination of the application to build 195 homes on farm land off The Lakes Road.

But protestors branded the tactic as laughable and urged residents who had supported their campaign so far to keep up their support.

The council said it was frustrated by Gladman’s appeal due to the company presenting further technical information for officers to consider to support its application, most notably on February 28 when detailed documents about air, ecological and flood risk assessments were submitted.

Gladman declined to comment on their appeal or the plans overall but have said Bewdley needs more housing and 59 of their properties would be affordable homes.

Rod Stanczyszyn, chairman of Bewdley Says No to Gladman, said: “We received a wonderful response from the people of Bewdley to our campaign with hundreds of residents expressing their anger at the application and 600 writing to WFDC with objections to it.

“Of course, Gladman’s answer to that was to draw on more money from their deep accounts and submit extra papers to “solve” those refusal points – papers which suggested some ridiculous ideas, such as a roundabout at the most congested and polluted part of Bewdley.

“Now Gladman have decided that those suggestions must be worthless and have jumped to an appeal process.

“We always expected this to happen and now ask people who love Bewdley to help us with financial support for the continuing fight.”

He urged people to contribute to their collecting boxes in Bewdley shops, St George’s Hall and via the website bewdley-says-no-to-gladman.btck.co.uk?

Bewdley Deputy Mayor Philip Edmundson added: “To claim non-determination after the constant to-ing and fro–ing from their original planning application in October is laughable.

“An email in October is not going to be enough. Continued and perpetuated action is needed. We need to make sure that people are aware of how Gladman is attempting to sidestep due process and get their own way.”