RESIDENTS of a leafy village are holding a human chain protest next month against plans to build 100 homes on green fields.

The Hurworth Against Detrimental Development (HADD) group met on Monday night, at the village’s Mustard Tree cafe, to galvanise objections to the plan to concrete over fields to the north of the village and build 100 homes.

Banks Developments has submitted its plans to Darlington Borough Council for the family houses, off Roundhill Road.

But residents are concerned about an increase in traffic, the extension of the village boundary, opening up the likelihood of further development, and increased flooding risk.

The school’s lollipop lady was already “taking her life in her hands” each day having to confront the speeding traffic along busy Roundhill Road, the meeting heard.

Villagers are also worried about a proposed pond as part of the development, which they believe could be dangerous for children, and the loss of wildlife habitat. Some raised concerns about protected water voles being on the current site, as well as tree sparrows.

A Roman brooch had also been discovered on the land, as well as some pottery, but archaeologists are satisfied it was not a significant Roman settlement.

Now the HADD group is planning a protest, which will involve demonstrators standing hand-in-hand along the side of the road in Hurworth, on Sunday, October 2, from 10.30am.

Hurworth Parish Council is holding a drop-in session that day at Hurworth Grange and it is hoped the protest will encourage people to go along and get more information about submitting objections to Banks’ plans.

The deadline for comments to be submitted has been extended until October 21.

Phil Wood, of HADD, said: “What is really important for us now is that we get as many objections as possible.

“That means getting ours in, and trying to get other people to put them in as well. We need to be looking at at least three figures in terms of objections.

“What I have noticed is, they say it is up to local communities what happens yet some director from Banks – from the other end of the country – has put a comment in to Darlington Borough Council about a village he has probably never heard of.

“When you look at the other comments in support they are all very similar to that one, which was lodged by the director of communications.”

Banks claims the development is in keeping with the existing character, size and scale of Hurworth.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, says: "Our Roundhill Road proposals have been carefully designed to ensure they are fully in keeping with the existing character, size and scale of the village, and will allow us to create a high quality new residential community in what is a wholly appropriate location for this type of development.

"Traffic management measures for both Roundhill Road and other locations in the village have been included in the plans, while comprehensive measures to address local flooding and drainage concerns have also been developed.

"We hope we will be given the opportunity to deliver the many long-term economic, environmental and social benefits to the local community that the Roundhill Road scheme would make possible after our application is assessed by Darlington Borough Council's planning committee."