A GROUP of concerned residents voiced their opposition to a major Droitwich housing scheme before handing over a 2,000 name petition to district council chiefs.

Campaign group Save Our Green Open Spaces (SOGOS) presented the petition opposing the development of 1,750 houses in the south of the town.

One of the areas being earmarked for housing is Yew Tree Hill – an open space considered to be an area of ‘special landscape’ and which a report commissioned by the council in 1995 said should be turned into a country park – according to campaigners.

Plans to build homes at the site have been put forward by the South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy (SWJCS).

The SWJCS is made up of representatives from Worcestershire County Council, Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council, who are working together to draw up a plan in response to the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (WMRSS), which is a blueprint for ambitious expansion of the region over the next two decades.

Addressing Wychavon’s councillors at a meeting, Neil Whelan of SOGOS acknowledged the need for housing.

But he argued that the current focus on developing in the south would further increase problems including traffic congestion, flooding and subsidence, as well as missing an opportunity to regenerate the High Street shopping area by locating new houses in walking distance to the town centre.

The alternative was to build northwards and on brownfield sites near to the centre.

SOGOS members have also undertaken a petition of businesses in Droitwich town centre asking which areas the traders considered would be best for housing developments in the town.

Feedback apparently shows that traders think it important for the regeneration of the town centre that any housing developments are situated as near as possible to the centre.

Campaigner Peter Kennedy said: “Though we are against the huge number of new houses being imposed by central government and have concerns about how the council is allocating those numbers, developing on centrally located brownfield sites and also to the north is the most common sense approach for improving the sustainability of our lovely town.

“We call upon the council to hold a further public consultation this month where they can address concerns on how areas are being selected for new housing.

“The next few months are critical for consultation given that the council will be voting to accept the South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy on housing in November.”

The campaign group's next meeting is tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm at the Spring Meadow, Primsland Way, Droitwich.