HUNDREDS of residents marched through Kidderminster in a show of community strength against controversial housing proposals on green belt land.

The walk, organised by the Spennells Against Further Expansion (SAFE) group, saw an estimated 250 people of all ages from across the district set off from Captains Pool before finishing at Kidderminster Town Hall at around 7pm last night (Friday, August 4).

At the town hall, SAFE handed MP Mark Garnier a letter outlining their objections to Wyre Forest District Council’s draft Local Plan.

The district council is consulting on its draft Local Plan Preferred Options Document - until August 14 - which sets out proposals for future development, including building more than 2,500 new houses on green belt, in the district over the next two decades.

But the plan has drawn criticism from people living in areas including Wilden, Spennells, Offmore, Comberton, Lea Castle, Areley Kings, Lickhill, Far Forest, Wribbenhall and Highclere.

They are concerned about the impact development would have on the countryside and wildlife while adding more pressure on roads, schools, hospitals and other services.

And they are urging councillors to focus more on brownfield sites or derelict buildings for redevelopment.

Residents from across these communities attended the march where they heard speeches from SAFE chairman Doug Hine, UKIP’s West Midlands MEP Jim Carver, Jerry Bartlett of Wyre Forest Labour and Mr Garnier.

Mr Hine said: “We are here because we care about Kidderminster, Stourport, Bewdley and the other parts of Wyre Forest and we want it to be a better place for us and our children to live and work in.

“Our communities have suffered from poor planning decisions in the past and its time our councillors and planners saw sense.

“There is no sense in replacing our beautiful and environmentally rich countryside with commuter suburbs. There is no sense in scrapping green belt for urban sprawl.”

Mr Carver criticised the timing of the release of the draft Local Plan. He said: “If we lose our green belt, we are never going to get it back.

“I think it’s a disgrace of the timing of the release of this plan, just before the summer when people are going on holiday making it more difficult to get their objections in. I would like to have seen this delayed until at least September.”

Mr Bartlett, who has lived in Wyre Forest for 50 years, added: “Local people do not need houses of the type that is proposed to build.

“We do need more housing in Wyre Forest for the 2,500 on the council housing list and we need affordable homes for our young people who have to leave the district or live with their parents because they can’t afford to buy or rent here.

“Those proposed will be far too expensive in a very low wage area for most of our people to buy. And our infrastructure will not support a great many more residents in the area.”

Mr Garnier praised the community spirit of those who attended and guaranteed he would make sure their views would be listened to by Wyre Forest District Council planners.

He said: “This whole issue is about everyone’s district, even those who feel they are not directly affected. The more people that get involved and put forward their views, the better the plan will be. My message to everyone is to get involved.”

Details on the draft Local Plan are available online at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview.

People can submit comments and feedback via email to LPR@wyreforestdc.gov.uk or by post to Planning Policy Team, Wyre Forest District Council, Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster, WORCS, DY11 7WF.