OBJECTORS to a gypsy site proposed in Cookley have spoken of their fears of losing 30 per cent of the value of their homes if plans go ahead.

Other concerns raised at a public meeting at Cookley Village Hall included the dangers the site posed for children and the over-subscription of the school and surgery.

Nearly 200 people turned out to Wyre Forest District Council’s consultation meeting, led by Mike Parker, the council’s director of planning and regulatory services.

Gill Hill, spokeswoman for the Cookley action group said: “The council’s proposal blights the value of our properties for the next 10 to 12 years, not just this year. The devaluation of our houses can amount to up to 30 per cent of the value. For example, on a £200,000 house this would be a £60,000 loss.”

Ms Hill described the site as having a large number of empty dilapidated 1950s buildings as well as underground ducts and tunnels for water, gas and electricity, which are lagged with damaged asbestos.

Residents applauded after she said: “Now consider the people you are proposing to house on this site - travellers and their children, children who love to explore. What better than empty buildings and tunnels? To get trapped in, to breathe in the deadly asbestos fibres. Would you house your children there? Are the gypsy children less precious than those of the settled community?”

Also speaking at the meeting was Labour district councillor Chris Nicholls, who quoted a report by Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI), which said “in the village of Cookley north of Kidderminster, is the most deprived rural Lower Super Output Area in Worcestershire on the employment, education and health domains, with 16 per cent of the working-age population workless.”

He said the site would be better used for employment and that the school and surgery were already full so Cookley could not support more residents.

Speaking to The Shuttle after the meeting, Cookley resident Carrol Reed said: “Ever since the hospital closed down we have been living with the ongoing uncertainty due to not knowing what will happen to the Lea Castle Site. Over this time we have heard various rumours, such as a prison or a hostel for illegal immigrants being built there.

She added: “Therefore, this new proposal on top of this is extremely upsetting to us all.”