VILLAGERS will be given a chance to grill their parliamentary candidates over their views on housing developments.

Hanney residents have been invited to the meeting at Hanney War Memorial Hall on Saturday, April 18.

Doors will open at 7pm for refreshments and a chance to meet candidates and the discussion will officially start at 7.30pm.

Conservative candidate for Wantage Ed Vaizey, Liberal Democrat Alex Meredith, Labour’s Stephen Webb, UKIP candidate Lee Upcraft and the Green Party’s Kate Prendergast will all sit on the panel and answer questions on housing and other subjects from the floor.

Vale of White Horse District Council has proposed building 200 homes in one large development east of the Hanneys to meet the district’s housing need.

A plan for 25 homes in East Hanney was approved in May 2013, the new Saxon Gate estate was built east of the A338 in 2012 and 2013 and another 16 homes were granted permission behind it in October.

A separate estate of 35 houses just south of that site was granted permission following an appeal by the developer in January.

The concept of building new houses east of the A338 has been controversial with villagers in the past, with East Hanney Parish Council objecting to several planning applications on the grounds the road formed a boundary to the village area.