RESIDENTS in Wroughton are bitterly disappointed that their views have been brushed aside in favour of granting a controversial planning application.

Hannick Homes was given the green light to build 103 homes off Marlborough Road last week by Secretary of State Sajid Javid, despite it violating the village’s neighbourhood plan.

And since the news broke, the decision has been met with much anger among residents and parish councillors – with many concerned about safety, increased traffic and disruption the potential development would cause.

Angela Thomson has lived in the village for the last 14 years, just yards away from where the new houses will be built.

“We’ve had meetings, filled in questionnaires all about the neighbourhood plan and people have worked so hard for this,” she said.

“You can see as you stand here that the traffic is a big problem without another road coming out from here.”

The plans were initially submitted in 2013 but after being denied permission from Swindon Borough Council, Hannick Homes took the proposals to appeal, arguing that Swindon was unable to meet its required housing supply.

Mr Javid agreed, despite the village’s neighbourhood plan getting a thumbs up from residents in a referendum last June.

As part of the proposals, houses at The Old Bakery would be demolished to pave way for access and now villagers have vowed to continue their fight, even handing out postcards to urge residents to write to the Secretary of State pleading with him to reverse his decision.

The parish council has backed the postcard idea and hopes more residents get on board to show a united front in opposing the development.

Steve Harcourt, chairman of the parish council, also questioned the point of dedicating years of time, effort and money into neighbourhood plans, only for it to be overturned by the Government. He said: “I am bitterly disappointed at this decision, and I know that many Wroughton residents share my disappointment.

“Many of our residents put a lot of time and effort into helping produce the plan and it now seems that all that effort was wasted. “I believe that the Secretary of State has let us down in coming to the decision to allow this appeal.

“Up to now I have been a strong advocate of neighbourhood plans, and I have been asked for advice by a number of parishes who are working on them.

“Sadly I now feel that the limited weight which is given to them is not worth the several years’ of effort involved in developing them and then getting them adopted. “Although successive ministers have supported neighbourhood plans in written and spoken statements, it seems that this support is not forthcoming in deciding appeals.”

Coun Toby Elliott, cabinet member for strategic planning and sustainability, has reiterated his pledge to explore all options open to contest the decision.