A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop any more homes being built in Nantwich.

The town's Conservative party has pledged to do all it can to prevent further land being allocated for housing claiming that Nantwich is being ruined by a stream of new homes.

Borough councillor Donald Potter says: 'Enough is enough.

'We have had about 850 new houses at Cronkinson Farm, something like 180 in Marsh Lane, another 350 are to be built at Kingsley Fields, and yet more on and near the site of the former James Edwards petrol station in London Road.

'Those sites have all been included in the local plan over many years.

'But once these developments are complete we are saying there should be no more.

'I am sure there will be pressure from developers to open up new sites in Nantwich.

'But these will be strongly opposed.'

He said his group felt the same about applications for new industrial sites.

'Nantwich doesn't need any. There are long standing vacancies on the development sites off Middlewich Road which have not been taken up.

'When industries in Nantwich have closed over the years the sites have all been taken up for housing which proves that there is no call in Nantwich for industrial sites.'

The campaign has some backing from Nantwich Civic Society whose president John Bedson, a former Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich, said: 'I would not say we were against all new developments but it must be carefully monitored.

'The vital thing is that Nantwich must retain its identity. There must be no linking up of Nantwich and Willaston, or Nantwich and Shavington so that there are no green areas left in the district. They must all remain separate communities.'

Conservative councillor Cllr Jean Pearson commented: 'We know places have to develop and that many towns are in the same boat. But they have already gone too far in Nantwich.

'The town is losing its character and tranquility, and everyone says it is being ruined because so many new houses are being built. There is a very strong feeling about this.'

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council says its draft Local Plan wants the majority of new land for housing to be in the Leighton West area of Crewe.