TOWN councillors have opposed plans to build on land in the heart of Evesham, saying it would turn its last green acres into a growing concrete slab.

The land along Abbey Road, said to be a site where a vision of the Virgin Mary appeared, has been earmarked as a potential location for 200 homes in the second stage of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

About 80 people last week attended the town council meeting bearing a banner asking people to ‘Keep Evesham Green’. They broke into rapturous applause when the council agreed to oppose the plans.

Councillor Charlie Homer said: “I don’t see the need for it and I think it would be a blot on our countryside.”

Coun Alan Booth said: “That land floods. I don’t think they have put any practical thought into this at all. They have seen a piece of land someone wants to get rid of and thought ‘let’s put a couple of hundred houses there’.

“We are in danger of having a concrete slab from Redditch to Evesham to Stratford. This town is a jewel in Worcestershire’s crown. Developments like this will spoil it completely.”

Coun Homer also spoke against plans for development off Kings Road, which were also opposed by the council.

He said: “I would find an increase in dwellings on that area of land inappropriate considering the number of homes already there.” He was supported by Coun Jim Bulman who said he was concerned the infrastructure would not cope.

However, councillors did not comment on every potential site and made no representation on the significant changes proposed in the SWDP for 10 hectares of employment land at Vale Park and a new bridge crossing the A46, or to plans for housing at Offenham Road.

The SWDP consultation period ended on Friday.