A CAMPAIGN group says more than 1,000 people have objected to controversial plans to build 100 homes in Tarporley.

Resident Michael George, who is spearheading the action group Tarporley Greenfield Awareness Project, hailed the response as ‘phenomenal’.

Developer Fox Strategic Land and Property (FLP) submitted an outline planning application to build on the 11-acre site off Nantwich Road last month.

Since then Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) has been inundated with written objections.

Mr George handed over about 900 to the planning department in Winsford yesterday to add to the objections already received.

He said: “We are now up to over 1,000 written objections against the proposed development in addition to the 600 plus strong petition.

“A clear sign of the weight of public opinion opposing the destruction of our countryside.

“It’s fantastic to see a community pulling together like this and fighting against such an unwelcome proposal.

“As far as we’re aware over 1,000 objections at this stage is unprecedented for a community of this size, it equates to approximately 50% of the voting population.”

FLP project director Martyn Twigg said he was ‘pleased’ so many residents had shown interest in the plans, but was ‘surprised’ to see objections from outside the area.

He said: “It is important to recognise that public responses to planning applications do not represent a referendum, with the number of supporters or objectors the determining factor.

“We are surprised that some of the objections have come from people outside the area including Hartlepool, Cornwall and Surrey.

“It would be disappointing if the views of people who are clearly unaffected by the development overrode those responses from Tarporley residents who are in desperate need of affordable housing to stay in their home village.

“We are confident that we have comprehensively addressed all technical concerns raised by objectors and it is therefore important to balance these objections against the benefits that the development will provide to the local community.”

Tarporley Parish Council will discuss the application at Monday’s meeting where members are expected to object to the development.

A decision from CWaC is expected to be made in December.