THE fight is on to save the district from a host of housing bids by developers.

Developers are fighting to change designated zones in Wyre Forest's local plan, which will shape the future of the district for the next decade.

The district council has identified areas for housing, industry, retail and other land uses but developers are objecting to many of the proposals.

More than 20 developers, interest groups and individuals will have hearings at the Local Plan inquiry which runs from Tuesday, October 29 to Thursday, December 12.

But council environment and economic regeneration portfolio holder Howard Martin said the authority had a strong case against objectors.

He said: "We have quite a strong case because we have extremely professional officers who know the locality and infrastructure while people coming in from the outside are not approaching it with local knowledge."

Mr Martin, who worked for the DTI in the Midlands for 25 years, added: "There are developers wanting land designated for housing. It is obvious if land is designated for housing its value will increase - people are just looking to maximise profits.

"You can look at it superficially and say we need more housing. But we do not want to end up as a commuter town where people live here but work and spend their weekends and money elsewhere.

"We need a town with industry, service industries, entertainment and housing, in essence a mixed economy."

Mr Martin and his Health Concern colleagues are most concerned about Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's objection to the Kidderminster Hospital site being designated for healthcare only.

Consultants working for the trust believe the site should be zoned for homes.

Its hearing is set to be heard on Thursday, October 31.

The public can attend but not participate in the hearings.

Wyre Forest District Council expects to receive the inspector's report on the local plan by next June.

It will publish recommendations in the report for a further six weeks of public consultation.

It aims to adopt the plan by December next year.

Key diary dates...

Other key dates in the inquiry to be held at the Civic Centre, Stourport, are scheduled to be held on:

Wednesday, November 6: Marmaris Investments regarding housing on a parcel of green belt land around Blakedown station.

Tuesday, November 12: Arab Investments, informal hearing about Stourport Basin regarding housing and retail expansion.

Thursday, November 21: British Sugar, looking for more land designated for employment on the sugar beet site.

Thursday, November 28: Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council regarding a hi-tech business development on the Lea Castle Hospital site.

Tuesday, December 3: Various objections by the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Thursday, December 5: Various objections by Kidderminster Civic Society.

Friday, December 6: Hurcott Village Management hearing regarding an area of development restraint.

Wednesday, December 11: George Wimpey UK regarding housing and employment zoning on the Georgian Carpets site, Kidderminster.