A PLANNED development at Bidford has met with fierce opposition from residents, town, district and county councillors.

But the development company involved has said people have not looked at plans properly and have misunderstood what is actually proposed.

Property developers Color Estates, in Dorsington, has applied for planning permission to redevelop the market garden facilities at Marriage Hill.

The development involves 25 units with 280 parking spaces covering 8,500 sq metres.

Campaigners have expressed concerns that the buildings could be potentially twice the height of existing green houses and would be highly visible from the Salford Road, Big Meadow and Avon Valley Footpath.

The 153-strong Bidford Residents' Group which co-ordinated the successful 1999 Village Referendum against similar proposals, is regrouping to fight this threat.

But Color Estates director Mr I Kolodotschko said he could not understand what people's objections were.

He said: "Following an appeal after a planning application several years ago, guidelines have been set down which dictate criteria for such applications.

"We have followed these exactly and have not exceeded any of the limits.

"People seem to be under the impression the plans consist of factory units, they will in fact be offices with living accommodation above, under the Government's live/work scheme to reduce commuting.

"On nearby land, proposals have been made for a housing development on green belt land and I have heard no objections, I can't understand why people are so against this scheme."

But the group feels the proposals will do little to enhance life in the village and local unemployment levels and forecasts are low so most jobs created would be taken up by outsiders.

County Councillor Peter Barnes said: "These plans are wholly inappropriate and I believe they should be stopped.

"There is no Green Transport plan included and there will be obviously be more traffic and there is no doubt that a redevelopment of this size will have a huge effect on the appearance of the area.

"As a county councillor and member of the Arden area planning committee, I find these plans entirely unacceptable."