FURIOUS residents from across Wyre Forest have issued a ‘hands off our Green Belt’ warning over controversial housing development proposals in the districts.

People in areas including Greenhill, Offmore, Spennells in Kidderminster and Highclere in Bewdley fear the loss of fields would have a hugely negative impact on their areas and increase pressure on existing services and infrastructure.

Wyre Forest District Council is consulting on its draft Local Plan Preferred Options document and is holding a series of events for people to discuss the plans, which set out two choices, with officers.

But the proposals have already come in for fierce criticism with action groups being formed by residents in Spennells and Highclere during the past few weeks.

The Offmore Comberton Action Group has set up a Local Plans Group to oppose the proposals - specifically development behind Baldwin Road and behind the Offmore Estate.

They have leafleted around 2,500 homes and are urging the council to consider an alternative proposal which includes extending the earmarked site at Lea Castle.

Hurcott Road resident Lucia Sabel said she was alarmed at plans to redevelop fields near her home for up to 200 houses.

She said: “We have lived her for 34 years and it was sold to us on the basis of its stunning views. The fields are very much a community facility too as dog walkers use them and meet up there.

“But as well as our personal concerns, the roads will struggle to cope with the volume of traffic new development would bring.”

Doug Hine, chairman of the Spennells against Further Expansion (SAFE) group, said frustrated residents found a council drop-in session chaotic and claimed officers were ill-informed.

He added at the last SAFE meeting, the group had agreed to hold a march against the plans.

The group has received support from Kidderminster-based MEP James Carver. He said: “There is no way the existing road network could cope with the volume of traffic created by almost doubling the size of the existing Spennells estate.

“The council seems to be running a bet that the government will agree to fund a bypass in order that Wyre Forest can satisfy its alleged housing need.”

Councillor Ian Hardiman, cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration, defended officers at the drop in sessions saying they were fully briefed and answered questions professionally.

He said: “It is fair to say that these difficult decisions on where future development happens, are causing emotions to run high and some residents who came along were agitated - some even rude – but officers remained calm and everyone was given the opportunity to have their say.

“There are plenty of other events being held throughout the district so anyone who did not get chance to come along will have other opportunities to attend future sessions.”

For more information on drop-in sessions and how to comment on the plans, visit wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview.