WEBHEATH campaigners fighting plans to extend the village are delighted Redditch Council has implemented a ban on new housing developments.

The Webheath Action Group (WAG) was celebrating after the authority announced a block on all housing developments for the next five years as part of its Local Plan 3.

At a recent planning meeting, councillors agreed only 74 more houses could be built in the town before 2011 and these would be solely on brownfield sites in the Redditch urban area.

WAG has been campaigning since 2003 to stop the development of neighbouring countryside and land off Church Road, which the council has allocated as an Area of Development Restraint (ADR).

A group spokesman said: "WAG has been an effective pressure group. This decision is a great result and reward for everyone's hard work."

He added: "The decision not to build is good news for Webheath and for Redditch, with politicans finally appreciating that residents believe our town is now as large as it needs to be. We do not want our surrounding countryside swallowed up."

But campaigners were disappointed the council did not lift the ADR from the designated land.

"This means they still want this land earmarked for development in the future," said the spokesman.

On May 23, WAG disbanded to give other residents the opportunity to take up the fight if Webheath is earmarked for development in the future.

"We felt the objectives of the organisation had been achieved and that current members would not be able to commit themselves in the future.

"It is time to stand down to make way for others who may wish to take up the mantle in the future should Webheath be threatened again," he said.

The spokesman thanked residents and WAG members for continued support.