OPPONENTS to a proposed new estate have said the plan would be an “utter disaster” for the village.

Bloor Homes has put forward plans to build up to 90 homes on fields between Worcester Road and Stourport Road in Great Witley near Worcester.

But villagers have come out against the move saying it would bring “misery” to the area.

More than 50 objections have so far been submitted by villagers including Phil Rees, who lives in The Glebe and would have the 90 homes built on his doorstep, said: “Roads, pavements, access and volume of traffic are already unacceptable.

“Schools, doctors, and shops are already stretched to support the surrounding community. Demand on services can be stretched now, so there would be a need for an immediate upgrade and investment to these services as the village could not support another 90 houses.”

Another objector, Jean Timmins of Stourport Road, said the disruption would bring “misery” to the village.

“The potential disruption to this small village in terms of traffic onto the Stourport Road from the potential new estate, the pressure on already pressed amenities such as GP time, is huge and potential misery for the residents already here,” she said.

And Clive Kennett, also of The Glebe, said the move would be an “utter disaster.”

“The site for this housing development is totally unsuitable, to put a housing estate right in the middle of a village on a beautiful green belt field, would be an utter disaster.

“The argument over developing this field has rolled on for years, and all the reasons for objecting still stand today.

“Nothing has changed, the schools are at capacity pupil level, the doctor's surgery still has the same amount of attending doctors and more patients would completely overwhelm them.”

Plans from earlier this year revealed that the developer was planning to build up to 100 homes on the land behind Great Witley CE Primary School and Great Witley Village Hall.

The land earmarked by Bloor Homes has been included in the ongoing review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) – which sets out where thousands of new homes will be built across the region in the next 20 years – but only for up to 44 homes.

Previous plans to build 175 homes on the same land and neighbouring fields were turned down twice by planners at Malvern Hills District Council in 2016 and 2017.

The second plan, which received more than 100 objections from villagers in Great Witley, was turned down again by a government planning inspector after an appeal was launched by Worcester-based developer Stennard Harrison’s Marsten Developments.

Great Witley Parish Council has argued against the plan saying in an objection to the council that the homes were “not needed” and would obscure views of the Abberley Hills.

You can still have your say on the plan by visiting Malvern Hills District Council’s website. The application number is M/23/01309/OUT and consultation ends on November 3.