VILLAGERS intent on preserving their “beautiful” surroundings have appealed for help in a battle against developers.

Residents in Hannington are dismayed that a planning application has been submitted to build eight houses and additional industrial units right in the heart of the idyllic village.

Kelli Salone, who has lived in the village for the past 45 years, has spoken in defiant tones since the Hannington Parish Council in August voted to approve the plans, much to her distress.

“I just cannot believe that this is being considered. It is going to change Hannington dramatically,” said Kelli, 47.

The proposals, submitted by Fowler Architecture & Planning Ltd on behalf of Lower Burytown Farms Ltd, include the demolition of buildings at Manor Farm in Queen’s Road to be replaced with a housing development.

According to the application, the proposals “will maximise a rare previously developed land resource at Hannington for a housing development of a scale in keeping with the historic form and character of the village”.

But Kelli is horrified by the plans and is worried that it could lead to further instances of “aggressive development” in the future.

She said: “They will be building an Aldi on our doorsteps before you know it.

“Hannington is a beautiful place to walk and drive through, with such nice scenery. It’s a beautiful village and we must stand up to the pressures of developers.

“We have an historic church and a lovely calm atmosphere that we wouldn’t have if we were aggressively developed.”

One area of contention for Kelli is the fact that the development is centred on one location, rather than being spread out more widely across the village.

She said: “We aren’t saying there should be no development at all – though I would perhaps go that far myself – but that it should be more widely spread.

“I just want to get people on board with protecting what we’ve got and ensuring we don’t become the focus of further development.”

Another resident, Leon Howell, who has lived at his Queen’s Road address for the past 14 years, also objected to the plans, saying “the development cannot proceed at the present”.

He cited as objections an increase in traffic, noise pollution, the design and appearance of the new buildings and the possible negative effects on privacy.

Kelli added: “I just don’t understand why they are allowing such a development.

“I am appealing to anybody who has ever been to Hannington and seen the beautiful scenery to help us keep it that way.”