PUBLIC anger and dismay has followed news that the developer Gladman is seeking outline planning permission for up to 210 dwellings on three green fields, close to the River Leadon in Ledbury.

Local people have until Sunday, February 17 to make their views known to Herefordshire Council, but already there has been no shortage of comments on social media.

The news follows a rash of speculative planning applications in recent years and a report that the town's new Neighbourhood Plan, which at best could protect the town from speculative planning applications, was stripped of its settlement boundary by an independent examiner, earlier this year.

This means that green fields surrounding the town remain fair game for planning applications for new estates.

Responding to the latest news on the Ledbury Reporter Facebook site, local resident resident Jeremy Moore said: "Why don't these property vultures just go away and leave us alone?"

Posting on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site, Terry Fleetwood said: "They are destroying our town for greed."

And Penny Cook agreed, saying: "These developments will not help Ledbury, they will destroy it."

Other residents expressed concern that land close to the River Leadon is apt to flood.

Cllr Andrew Warmington, county councillor for the Ledbury West Ward, where the planning application is situated, said: "It would be pre-determination on my part to say that it should or should not be stopped, which is why I, as the ward member, will reserve my position until such time as it goes before planning committee.

"But it certainly can be stopped, and I would urge anyone who has strong feelings on the subject to make their views known to Herefordshire Council."

Cllr Warmington also made a plea for all three of Ledbury's county councillors to pull together to help decide where estates should be built and where they should not.

He said: "There are major planned developments in all three wards. It reinforces the need for the three ward members, whoever they are after the May 2019 election, to work together for the good of Ledbury, regardless of party politics."

The planning application reference for the Gladman application is: P184447/O.

The application, which also includes open space, landscaping and "a suitable drainage system" would have an access point off The Little Marcle Road.

But much of it would run close to the course the River Leadon and the Riverside Walk beauty spot, which is indeed known to flood.

In fact, the Gladman application does acknowledge a risk of flooding for the 18.57 hectare site.

A flood risk assessment proposes several measures, including floor levels set a minimum of 150mm above "external ground level" and a drainage basin for excess water .

Gladman's covering letter states a number of claimed benefits from the development. Up to 40 per cent of the new homes would be affordable and the development would bring in more than £5m to the economy each year.

The stated aim of the application is to "deliver a high quality, sustainable development which reflects the scale, layout and pattern of Ledbury and is appropriate to its setting".