RESIDENTS in West Swindon are continuing their battle against a major housing development in Purton with an email campaign.

A proposal to build 700 homes on the Ridgeway Farm site was rejected by Wiltshire Council in February, but a public enquiry is being held after the developer appealed against the decision.

Taylor Wimpey argued the authority did not rule on the plans within the legal time limit and the plans will now go to an eight-day inquiry, starting on May 9 in Chippenham.

Shaw Residents’ Association has received more than 260 emails from nearly 550 residents in support of its campaign to oppose the proposed development.

The campaign, led by SRA member Kevin Fisher, has been leafleting homes in the area to drum up support.

“The message is, keep sending me the emails of support and encourage your neighbours,” he said.

“It’s important for me to have a clear mandate to speak on behalf of the residents of west Swindon at the inquiry.”

Mr Fisher claimed to have received a 20 per cent response rate in the Sparcells, Peatmoor and Common Platt areas.

SRA chairman Andrew Snowdon, of Nine Elms, said: “It’s early days and there are currently areas we feel if people were only jogged they would actually be very keen to respond.”

“If they think they have protested before, they just need to join the process again.

“The developers have come up with a proposal, fine, but they don’t seem to have planned properly to fit the development into the existing environment.”

SRA argues the plans are unsustainable.

Its website states: “The development will rely on outside facilities, most of which are not in walking distance, resulting in increased traffic congestion and even worse parking difficulties in Peatmoor and Shaw village centres.”

The group also argued the build would be undemocratic, as it has been opposed by local councillors and both Swindon MPs.

One of those opponents is Coun Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), who will be speaking at the inquiry in May.

“This is a cowboy application by the developer and it seeks to piggyback on west Swindon amenities. We are supportive of development but it has to be sustainable,” he said.

Developers Taylor Wimpey declined to comment when contacted by the Adver.

To join in the campaign, send an email to shaw-residents@virginmedia.com The email should state your opposition to the development and provide your full address and the names of anyone in your household, over the age of 18, who are also against it.