VILLAGERS say a developer’s plan to build up to 125 new homes on ‘prime farmland’ will overload local roads, schools and GPs.

Cheshire-based Gladman Developments has applied for outline permission to build on a 5.67-hectare site at Carisbrook Road in Mitcheldean.

But residents have told Forest planners such a large new estate housing around 500 people would ruin the traditional village, with up to 250 more cars clogging its streets, and its GP surgery and schools unable to meet demand.

Spelling out her objections, Lisa Harding said: “Mitcheldean has already seen two fairly large estates added in recent years, but these pale in comparison to the proposed estate planned for this land north of Carisbrook Road, which is unnecessary, far too large and would engulf the traditional village.

“One hundred and twenty five new homes would potentially mean 250 extra vehicles… causing extreme traffic issues on already very congested roads.

“At the moment the traffic already queues from the mini roundabout right back to the centre of the village by the church every morning, and it is impossible to drive through the village at 5pm.”

Fellow resident David Tingle added: “A development of this size would mean Mitcheldean is basically a town without the infrastructure and facilities of a town.”

Local roads were already inadequate for current traffic, he said, while parking space on the high street was already at a premium, and there would be an increased risk of flooding if the estate went ahead.

“The village itself has one doctor’s surgery in which it takes up to three weeks to get an appointment, one primary school which is full and current villagers have to take their siblings out of the village,” he added.

He said available land at the village’s former George pub, the former Townsend house nursing home, and the old Cotterells bus station were already available and should be developed without causing ‘major disturbance’ to the village.

Andrew Hutchins and Tina Wilks-Hutchins have told planners they live opposite the proposed access junction, which would make it dangerous for them and their neighbours driving onto the ‘already very busy’ Carisbrook Road.

“The land that the developer wants to build on is Grade A agricultural land which is an important wildlife habitat which is home to rare newts, bats and hedgehogs, and also merlins and buzzards,” they added.

“This land has been deemed by Mitcheldean Parish Council as not to be part of the Neighbourhood Development Plan, and should be kept as agricultural Green Belt land.

“The school is already oversubscribed and the doctor’s surgery is also.

“There are also very few job opportunities in Mitcheldean, so this housing development would be a dormer estate with people having to travel outside the village to work.”

Gloucestershire County Council archaeologist Charles Parry has also told planners the wider landscape contains “extensive archaeological remains relating to prehistoric and Roman settlement and activity.”

“There is in my view high potential for archaeological remains to be present within the proposed development area.

“I am therefore concerned that ground works and intrusions required for the proposed development may have an adverse impact on significant archaeological remains,” he said.

Gladman says that it aims to create “a sensitively designed and high-quality place which complements the character of Mitcheldean”.

The development would include 40 per cent social housing, and feature green spaces, recreational routes and a new children’s play area, it adds.