VILLAGERS in Fladbury and Hill and Moor fear increased heavy goods vehicle traffic will endanger life and overwhelm country lanes if a controversial planning application gets the go-ahead this month.

They have 55 names on their protest petition and sent separate letters of objection to Wychavon District Council opposing Evesham Vale Growers' scheme for a change of use at Spring Hill Farm, Salters Lane.

Residents say the firm already has traffic running to and from the site, bring in foreign produce for processing at the farm.

Tom McDonald, chairman of Hill and Moor Parish Council, said: "It's of concern to local residents because Salters Lane is a small lane, a very small lane indeed."

Salters Lane resident Alison Train said the protesters were not against agricultural activities at Spring Hill Farm but felt the scale of Evesham Vale Growers' operations was inappropriate for the site and surrounding lanes.

Agent for the grower, James Powell, said Spring Hill Farm, bought by the company three years ago, had been one of the largest high-intensity market gardening farms in the Vale of Evesham for over a century.

During the winter months, however, he said Evesham Vale Growers had to import vegetables from countries such as Egypt, Mexico and Israel to continue supplying the supermarkets.