CAMPAIGNERS are urging people who don’t want to see development at Tadpole Farm to make their voices heard.

Crest Nicholson has applied to Swindon Council to build 1,695 family homes on the site at Blunsdon St Andrew, as well as other facilities including a community centre, pub and primary school.

Oakhurst Residents’ Associa-tion is rallying support ahead of a planning committee meeting in March, where a decision will be made on whether the development will go ahead.

Secretary of the residents’ association, Stephanie Exell, said: “We would like to see it turned down at planning committee because it is just not good enough for Swindon. We deserve better.

“We would like members of North Swindon who feel strongly about this to object and they can still do that. Keep the letters coming in.

“We would also like people to turn up to the planning committee meeting and let the planners know how they feel. We want as many people there as possible.”

The outline planning application includes 149 acres of public open space and 11 acres of employment space. There would be two access points onto Tadpole Lane and a third on to the old A419.

But the residents’ association says that the infrastructure needed for the development is not there.

They believe the plans would lead to congestion, problems with foul drainage, and a shortage of primary and secondary school places in the area.

“It is infrastructure deficits that are the problem,” said Stephanie. “It is a major application, it reduces the Northern Development Area by 15 per cent. We have to consider the impact not just on us but the wider communities.

“The infrastructure is not there. All the success in Swindon has been in developments like West Swindon, where the infrastructure has been in place.”

The association has been rallying support by door-knocking residents and has collected 350 objections.

It also has support from residents in Rodbourne Cheney and Redhouse.

Swindon Council will consider the application at a planning committee meeting at 6pm on March 13 at the Civic Offices.

Anyone who objects the application should write to planning officer Ian Halsall.

For more information about the association, call Stephanie on 01793 703276 or email steph.exell@sky.com.