Residents of Chilcompton are being asked to voice their concerns about a major new development being planned that could seriously affect the look and structure of the village.

Local pressure group, Chilcompton Against Rural Over-development (CARO), is fighting yet another scheme that they say would tarnish the appearance and sustainability of the village – this time a plan by Gladman, property promoters, to build 95 houses. The buildings would go on green fields between New Rock Road, Stockhill Road and Hoecroft.

The impact would be to increase the size of the village by 10% at a time when the village school is over-subscribed; the surgery is full; there are real fears about flooding and the narrow roads are increasingly congested.

CARO spokesman, Rich Morgan, said: "This is a colossal plan that would really harm the very fabric of Chilcompton. We want people to pick up their reddest pens and shout with their loudest voices."

In recent months the pressure group has been celebrating with five victories at a National Appeal level.

But Rich added: "This is the biggest one of them all; we really cannot afford to take the foot off the pedal. We need people to write in and object."

Letters of objection need to get to Mendip District Council by the 30th of March. The group are also aiming to generate an online petition.

Last week saw MDC turn down a similar application by Gladman in Coleford. The council rejected the plan on the grounds that it would have a significantly harmful visual impact on the area.

CARO, which now has more than a hundred members, can be contacted at [email protected]