A VILLAGE has turned out in force to register fierce opposition to controversial house-building plans.

More than 170 people crowded into Corbridge Parish Hall to face developers planning 54 executive and affordable homes in the village.

Taylor Wimpey’s plans for Deadridge Lane and Synclen Estate have stirred up major opposition from local people who believe the extra housing cannot be sustained.

They also argue extra traffic will compromise safety on tight roads and for children at the village first school.

David Welsh, one of the leaders of the opposition campaign, said: “Our hope is that Taylor Wimpey has at least been given opportunity to pause for thought.

“There was a packed hall, with people standing out in the corridors, and that demonstrates the feeling within the village. I asked how many people were in favour of more executive housing in Corbridge and not one of the 170-odd people present said they were.

“Everybody is keen to see an opportunity for affordable housing in the village, but it’s where and on what scale they plan to build that is the problem. It is clear there are major problems about access and safety and the infrastructure is not there to sustain this level of new development.”

A similar application was turned down in 1998 and objectors believe the developers are now trying to take advantage of Northumberland County Council’s failure to finalise planning policies.

“Taylor Wimpey can see a tactical opportunity to get in between the old Tynedale Council’s and the new Northumberland County’s planning policies and are cynically trying to exploit it,” Mr Welsh added. “And the danger is that the planners will just cave in because of the cost of any appeal.”

Taylor Wimpey’s land and planning director, John Driver said: “Both of these sites were safeguarded for housing under the Tynedale local plan, which is being superseded by the Northumberland core strategy.

“I wasn’t surprised by the level of opposition at the public meeting and am totally aware of the anti-development majority.

“The development application will now probably go into April to allow us to take feedback from Wednesday night.

“We want to work with residents and local groups so that if the development went ahead, they could shape that development.

“We are going to proceed with the application, but we want the stakeholders of Corbridge to play a part in it. We want to honour what we have said.”

With a planning battle looming, Mr Welsh added: “We are up for it. Governments and councillors and planners have to listen to the views of local people.

“Our mantra is that Corbridge has been here for 2,000 years and does not belong to Governments or developers. It belongs to the people.”

A petition opposing the developments was launched at the public meeting, gathering an initial 135 signatures.