RESIDENTS who are fighting plans for more than 20 new homes in Leominster say a 'beautiful' greenfield site would be lost and traffic issues would increase should the scheme be approved.

Cabot Trustees is proposing to build 21 new homes on land at Pinfarthings, off Mappenors Lane.

A total of 25 per cent of the homes would be affordable while the rest would be market housing, ranging from two to four bedrooms in a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached housing.

But residents have raised concerns about limited access to the site – which would be through an existing gate on Mappenors Lane – as well as the potential impact on the narrow Green Lane and the already heavily polluted Bargates.

The land, campaigners say, is also one of the only few remaining patches of green space in the area and is frequently used by walkers.

One campaigner, Walter Wright, said: “Why destroy green space when surrounding existing housing developments haven't been built – it doesn't seem right.

"There are so many brownfield sites which have been given planning permission [including off Barons Cross].

"Now they want to fill in 21 houses in an already over-developed part of Leominster.

"There will also be more traffic as there are plans for 47 spaces for cars and the development would be destroying the views that local people enjoy.

"There are a lot of elderly people in this area and they will have to walk further and further to enjoy the rural areas. "

He added there are already traffic problems on Green Lane – with several new developments having been built over the years – but this would make it worse particularly during the construction stage.

Leominster town councillor, Pauline Davies, has also urged county planners to carry out a site visit before they consider approving the scheme.

"The pollution on the Bargates is absolutely shocking and motorists travelling up Green Lane cannot go right into Ginhall Lane – they have to take the road onto the Bargates,” she said.

“That will mean perhaps 40 plus more vehicles on the Bargates which is unacceptable. When it goes to county council they need to do a site visit because seeing it is believing it.”

Meanwhile, Margaret Breakwell, who has lived in the area for more than 50 years, said: “A lot of people use the field and walk their dogs there and there's also a lot of wildlife and wild flowers.

"Our main concern is that it's going to bring the traffic out on to Green Lane and it is only a lane."

She added there are concerns both about congestion and safety.

Leaflets have been delivered to all residents, encouraging them to register their objections. The consultation ends today (Thursday, June 23).

The Hereford Times contacted the applicant's agent but they did not wish to comment.

However they did state that the proposal will be considered by statutory consultees.