ACTOR Mark Rylance has expressed concern on a planning application to build new houses in Ball Road, Pewsey.

Mr Rylance played protagonist Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron in Jerusalem, a play based on Pewsey man Micky Lay.

He wrote to Ball Road resident Judy Totton about the plan, saying that playwright Jez Butterworth had relished this undeveloped lane.

An application was originally submitted by the CRY King Trust last autumn to build seven houses on land east of Ball Road but these plans were withdrawn.

A new bid has been been put forward for four houses with parking and to create a new vehicular access point.

Mrs Totton, of Ball Road, said: “It makes absolutely no difference to the main objections that we put forward. Safety and access are paramount and there is a strong level of objection.

“Four houses is all well and good but four houses is the tip of the iceberg. We know that if this is approved another application will be submitted in the future.”

On Friday, Devizes MP Claire Perry visited the site with Wiltshire councillor for Pewsey Jerry Kunkler after Mrs Totton made her aware of residents’ concerns.

Mrs Totton said: “It’s not just Claire Perry who has taken an interest – Mark Rylance wrote a letter to me adding his support. He said towns belong to the people who live in them and asked for his name to be put on the list of people who object.”

Mrs Totton is also frustrated Wiltshire Council did not inform her another plan had been submitted.

She said she had been told the council has only received 10 objections from residents and was worried people may not know about it.