THERE were heated exchanges at a public display of plans to build up to 800 homes on Ridgeway Farm, near Peatmoor in west Swindon.

Developer Taylor Wimpey held the exhibition at the Roughmoor Social Hall where concerned members of the public were keen to make their views known to the company.

Some 1,000 new homes have been earmarked for the west of Swindon, of which 200 have been given planning permission at Moredon Bridge. The Ridgeway Farm development would complete this.

Taylor Wimpey is also proposing to build a primary school, set aside some open space and improve infrastructure such as roads and drainage around the site.

Residents said they were not opposed to houses being built but they had grave concerns about the pressure it would put on the road system.

Marilyn Kempshall, who lives in Peatmoor, said: “Before they do any building they have got to think about the road infrastructure. There is no way that any more traffic can go on these roads.”

She said she was also concerned about wildlife, especially deer, as the development would block their access to Shaw Forest.

“I’ve got no objections to building houses there but they have really got to look at the infrastructure; schools, shops and medical centres,” she said.

Derek Woods, who has lived in The Elms for 44 years, said: “I’ve got no problem with housing development but they just need to take the roads into account. The more it’s grown the less they’ve done with the roads. This will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

But some said the choice of site was wrong and would lead to problems in the future.

Geoff Brown, from Nine Elms, said: “Considering a lot of it is going to be built on a major flood plain I am very concerned.”

Representatives of Taylor Wimpey said they would listen to the comments and see what they could do to address people’s concerns.

John Aylwin, strategic project director for Taylor Wimpey, said they had completed environmental impact assessments and had adapted their plans accordingly.

But he insisted the land in question was not at risk of flooding.

“We are not building on flood plain here,” he said.

The company is planning to submit an outline application in July and aims to start building work at the end of 2011.