RESIDENTS in Bartestree have hit out at plans to bring more houses to the village following another application.

Paul Ingram and Dave Cadwallader are proposing to house 62 homes, complete with open space land, on two fields between the village hall and shop.

The pair said that 22 of the homes will be affordable and will be energy efficient.

"It is a development ideally located within the heart of the village - with good access to services and facilities," said Mr Ingram.

"It will retain all native hedgerows, including those fronting the A438 Ledbury Road and will protect the environment and lead to positive gains in terms of local biodiversity.

"We believe that it will provide a genuine alternative to commercially-led development proposals and potentially limit the ability of national house builders to capitalise on the planning policy void with less sympathetic development proposals.

However, that has not swayed the opinion of villagers who have already seen a separate proposal for 50 homes submitted to Herefordshire Council.

"The two fields are what make Bartestree still feel like a village and that side of the road should remain undeveloped," said Geoffrey Watts, from the Bartestree and Lugwardine Parish Action Group.

"There are lots of material reasons why this big development is a bad idea - the schools are full, the sewage system is full, the water supply is at its limit and the traffic is already bad.

"Accepting this scheme will not stop other developments from taking place.

"We could end up with them all and a suburban sprawl."

Ellen and Paul Goodchild share Mr Watts' concerns - saying that it is "too much too soon."

"I haven't got a problem with housing, especially if it's affordable, but it needs to done with the neighbourhood plan in mind," said Mrs Goodchild.

However, Nicky Louden said that she was supportive of the plans - saying that it would be good for the village.

"We need more affordable housing and I think Bartestree needs a bit of a lift," she said.

"I think it will be a tasteful development within the village."