RESIDENTS in Lyneham are furious that their parish council has written an official letter supporting a plan for more than 100 homes in the village, despite knowing that more local people opposed the scheme than supported it.

Almost 30 people attended an extraordinary meeting of Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council on Tuesday, where a letter regarding the development for 111 homes at Pound Farm, which will be submitted to Wiltshire Council, was read out.

The meeting at Lyneham Church Hall heard that the parish council “acknowledged that letters of objection far outweighed letters of support” and that residents from Webbs Court would be “disappointed at the prospect of a very few of them losing the view from their homes”.

But the letter made clear that “loss of view is not a planning consideration”, affordable homes were needed in the village and that “we are not in a position to refer to a Neighbourhood Plan”.

It concluded “the parish council support the application if it will help fill the requirement of ‘affordable’ homes and bungalows as identified in the housing needs survey.

“In supporting the development we would also be helping to fulfil the Wiltshire Council target for development in the area.”

The outline planning application, submitted by Gleeson, includes 111 homes, public open space, a children’s play area and pumping station on land currently owned by Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council vice-chairman, Tim Webb, who was not at the meeting.

On Wednesday Mr Webb said: “The reason I wasn’t there was because I thought it was best and I don’t want to bring the parish council into disrepute.

“I had to declare an interest and I just don’t go to the meetings. I’ve been getting a lot of abuse from local people and lots of damage to my property. Everything in the letter was planning policy, there’s only about 13 people against it.”

After the meeting, residents were furious at the decision to approve the draft of the letter and angrily quizzed the five councillors present.

One resident said: “Where is the evidence to say that more people are in favour of it than not?”

Another added: “Do you feel you are reflecting the views of your parishioners? Where are the supporters?”

“We were told we have to write this letter, we didn’t want to make a decision on this at all, we asked Wiltshire Council to call in the decision,” said Geoff Jackson-Haines, chairman of Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council. “We don’t make a decision on the planning. We have approved the letter and it goes on.”

When asked if the parish council thought the letter would have any sway with Wiltshire Council’s decision on the application, Mr Jackson-Haines replied “probably not”.

“It’s all about the potential loss of three to six green fields,” said Richard Marshall, a Lyneham resident for 19 years.

“I’m not just disappointed about Tuesday night, ever since this first came up I’ve been involved and I’ve been disappointed with the Parish Council from the start.

“They announced this meeting last Wednesday, two days before a bank holiday and just inside the legal minimal notice required and the meeting itself was only two days before the consultation ended.

“I’m glad that we have Wiltshire Council between us and the developers because it’s about protecting these green fields.”

The public consultation on the plans closes today, with a decision expected to be made by Wiltshire Council later this year.