RESIDENTS are fighting plans for a new housing estate on woodland near their homes.

A2Dominion has been consulting neighbours over plans to develop land off Shilton Road. The developer already has outline planning permission and wants to build 63 homes.

Elaine Riding, 42, of Scholars Acre, Carterton, lives opposite the proposed development.

She said: “Our house will front the development, which we will see from our sitting room and bedroom windows.

“When we moved to the house 14 years ago, we were delighted to enjoy the benefits of wildlife living on the land off Shilton Road and Burford Road. Owls, hedgehogs, songbirds and even woodpeckers used to visit our garden.

“Last year we were horrified to see that the landowner had cut down nearly all the trees. Since then there has been a marked reduction in the number of songbirds, no owls heard or sighted, no hedgehogs and no woodpeckers. We are convinced that this is not a coincidence.

“We can now hear traffic noise from Burford Road, which we couldn’t before.”

Neighbour Sarah Bagshaw, 41, added: “It’s a ridiculous to put so many houses on such a small area.”

Sue Allen, of Shilton Road, said: “The lane is too narrow as there aren’t any pavements and it will be dangerous.”

Carterton Town Council also raised a number of concerns, including the impact of the development on neighbouring bungalows, and called for traffic calming measures.

Gerry Walker, of A2Dominion, said in a statement that the new homes would have little transport impact.

He added: “The number of homes proposed for the site is at the lower end of Government planning guidance.”