A CAMPAIGN group in Scartho has asked residents to dig deep so that they can raise £1,500 to "fight a good fight" against a proposed 160-home development.
As reported, Cyden Homes has announced plans to build 160 homes to the rear of houses on Shaw Drive and Kensington Place, working alongside consultants Barton Willmore and building company Chartdale.
If successful, builders could be on site at the end of 2013 and it would take around seven years to complete the project, at a rate of about 25 homes a year.
However, as reported, residents have united against the project and formed the Scartho Village Action Group to oppose it.
And at a public meeting at St Giles Church Hall on Friday, the group's committee announced that it plans to hire a highways engineering company to conduct a traffic survey with which to fight the application.
The survey will cost £1,500 and those present at the meeting agreed to start fundraising immediately as the group will only have 21 days to act once a planning application is submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council.
Committee member David Powell told the group: "We need to do everything we can to fight a good fight against this development, which is why we need your contributions.
"With these consultants on our side, we have a much better chance of winning the battle."
More than 80 people turned up to the meeting – one of many held since the announcement of the plans in the summer.
Members of the group believe that the extra traffic which will have to pass through the surrounding areas – such as Scartho Road and Peaks Parkway – once 160 new homes are built will be dangerous, may harm wildlife and will disrupt the community.
Councillor David Hornby (Con, Scartho) said: "I have said since the beginning that the one way we are going to win this battle is with a traffic assessment so please give whatever you can to the fighting fund."
Committee members will be visiting houses in the coming weeks asking for donations.
They are considering setting up a way to donate online, and even took cash on the night.
And it seemed that residents didn't mind putting their hands in their pockets.
Malcolm Gaffing, 60, of Westkirk Avenue, said: "I don't have a problem with donating because we need all the information we can get to put a stop to this development and I think others will feel the same."
For more information on the group, visit www.scartho.org.uk
Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for the latest on plans for the housing development.
