RESIDENTS in the west of Swindon are being urged to speak out as judgment day looms for a controversial plan to build 700 homes in Purton.

A proposal for the Ridgeway Farm site was rejected by Wilt-shire Council last month, but developer Taylor Wimpey has now appealed the decision, on the basis that the authority did not rule on it within the legal time limit.

Now the Shaw Residents’ Association has sent letters to each household in Peatmoor, which borders the earmarked land, in a bid to drum up opposition to thwart the appeal.

The group needs 500 people to submit their views in order to be able to represent the area at the inquiry, due to be held on May 9 in Chippenham.

A statement on the organisation’s website says: “The Shaw Residents’ Association believes there are two fundamental reasons not to approve the planning application for Ridgeway farm.

“First, it is not a sustainable development. The development will rely on outside facilities, most of which are not in walking distance, resulting in increased traffic congestion.

“Second, it would be undemocratic. All locally elected representatives in both Swindon and Wiltshire have publicly voiced their opposition to the proposal and over 1,000 local residents in both Swindon and adjacent Wiltshire towns have written to Wiltshire Council to object.”

Among those who have objected are councillors Keith Williams (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) and Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms).

Coun WIlliams said: “The people at Ridgeway Farm will be using Swindon’s infrastructure – our roads, our schools, our doctors’ surgeries – but paying council tax to Wiltshire Council.To us, that is not fair.”

Coun Martin said: “They want to do it on the cheap, bung us a primary school and use all the utilities and roads in west Swindon.”

Taylor Wimpey refused to comment when asked by the Adver about the opposition to the plans.

Anyone who wants to have SRA represent their views can send an email to shaw-residents @virginmedia.com, stating opposition to the development and providing their full address and postcode.

For more information on group’s opposition bid, visit www.shawresidents.org.uk.