Pewsey residents are incensed over a proposed housing development next to Swan Meadow.

Around 50 residents turned up to the parish council planning meeting to show their disapproval of the application, while more than 100 letters against the development have been submitted.

Applicants Richard and Rebecca Middleton, of Southcott, want to build ten houses with a mixture of three, four and five bedrooms on the nine-hectare plot, which is part of a 30-year-old orchard.

There would also be two access roads and 23 car parking spaces for residents of the homes.

The development would see around 15 per cent of the 947 trees felled.

Major concerns over the risk of flooding and loss of wildlife were raised during the meeting.

Iona Hassan, spokeswoman for the Pewsey Environmental Action Team, a group set up by residents, said: “The development of ten executive homes in this location would destroy precious habitat, require further tree felling in Southcott cider orchard and exacerbate flood risk.

“The idea that this development may go ahead is horrifying.

“It would completely change this part of the landscape, effectively joining the historic village of Pewsey to the hamlet of Southcott.”

However, a habitat survey carried out by Manford environmental consulting stated there was no evidence that animals including badgers, bats and water voles, which residents claim can be found at the site, live there.

Mrs Middleton said: “It is clear looking at the letters and emails sent to the council that there has been an orchestrated campaign against our application.

“I urge everyone to look at the facts in this planning application.”

The parish council planning committee voted in favour of strongly opposing the application on grounds including loss of a wildlife corridor, loss of amenity in Pewsey and the need for a flood risk assessment.

Now Wiltshire councillor Jerry Kunkler has called in this major development for full consideration by Wiltshire Council’s planning committee.

He said: “I have called the decision in because it is a matter of public interest. I have received a petition and a lot of letters and emails about the application.”