FEARFUL Burton residents are being urged to respond to plans to step up the fight against a new housing development in the village.

A packed meeting held at Burton United Reformed Church told villagers how they should respond to Christchurch Borough Council’s core strategy consultation, which could see 45 houses built at the back of Alder Close and Medlar Close.

The land is owned by the Meyrick Estates, which recently set-up their own consultation about the plans.

Resident Steve Perry, who had helped to organise the meeting with fellow villager Alison Ramsey and members of Burton Parish Council, said it was imperative that people submitted their letters and forms before the deadline of Monday June 25.

He told concerned villagers: “We believe this will spell the end of the farm.

“This is valuable pasture land, and if the allotments are moved, this will take away even more. That would be a catastrophe.

“It’s just not effective and not achievable.”

The development would be on green belt land with other issues centring on the flood risk and increased traffic on the village roads and surrounding lanes as well as the land being part of Burton Conservation Area.

And there are also concerns, that if this development is given the go-ahead it will set a precedent for future applications.

Burton and Grange county councillor David Jones, who advised residents on how their views could be made known, said: “I’m sure that many are wondering what they can do about this.

“I would just say, if you fight you may lose, but if you don’t fight you will lose.

“If you do not like this, get your objections in because this is not a done deal.”

And parish council chairman Judy Jamieson said: “Tell fellow residents about it. They might not know.

“We are fighting because we love where we live.”

• Contact Alison Ramsey on 07902 921940, David Jones on 01425 270058 or Graham Richards on 01202 477263 for information on how to respond to the consultation regarding the plan.