SCARTHO residents opposing a proposed 160-home development believe it would set a dangerous precedent for other villages in North East Lincolnshire.
More than 100 residents met at St Giles Church Hall on Friday to discuss action against the Cyden Homes planning application for 160 new dwellings off Glebe Road, submitted earlier this month.
It was organised by Scartho Action Group – set up after screening events last year – which urged residents to put pen to paper and object to the development.
Panel member David Hopkinson said: "The developer wants to use this as a land-bank, building just 25 houses per annum – which would turn Scartho into a building site for six or seven years.
"I want people to be annoyed enough to fill out that opposition letter and get it to the council."
And Graham Pendred told the crowd that allowing this development to be built in land known as "the strategic gap" could lead the way for other developers.
He said: "The land is allocated to prevent urban sprawl and stop villages coalescing.
"If Cyden is successful, it will set a dangerous precedent that could lead to houses eventually being built all the way through to Waltham.
"This area needs to be protected, not just for us in Scartho but for the whole of North East Lincolnshire."
Councillor Alex Baxter also gave a rousing speech when invited to the stage.
"In 15 years our heritage could disappear unless they are stopped but we won't give up – we have the expertise and have raised the money to win this fight," he said.
After the meeting, Leslie White, 85, of Glebe Road, said: "I think we are on the right track – we have some good people behind us."
Susan O'Neill, 63, of Glebe Road, said: "It was encouraging and I really hope we can do it."
Nobody from Cyden Homes was available for comment.
Find out more about the application here
