VILLAGERS have vowed to fight plans for a housing development on an allotment site.

More than 30 residents gathered at Howden-le-Wear Community Centre on Wednesday night to voice their objections against the proposals for 41 homes.

It is believed the development will feature three-storey town houses which residents say will be out of place in a village environment.

Members of the village allotment association were told that the landowners gave Wear Valley District Council 12 month's notice to vacate the land, known as Howden-le-Wear allotments, last September.

Since then, gardeners have been fighting to keep the plots that they say have been an integral part of the village for 60 years.

Allotment secretary David Quinn, who is also a councillor on Wear Valley District Council said that gardeners were prepared to fight to save their land.

He said: "I have been secretary at the allotments for the past 20 years and some people have had their gardens for 43 years. There is not a lot left in this village and if you lose the allotments you lose the leek show which we hold in the community centre every year.

"We attract over 300 entries from people who come from all over and it is a big thing in the village."

Residents are also keen to point out that it was not just the allotment holders who are upset about the housing development.

One man who spoke at the meeting said: "We need to raise the profile and make people aware that this is a real issue in Howden-le-Wear.

"This is not just a small group of gardeners. There are people at this meeting who do not have gardens.

"They need to know the strength of feeling here."

The plans are to be discussed by the district council's development control committee and in the meantime residents have set up an action group.

One woman said: "I am prepared to fight this. They are talking about having town houses on that land and town houses have no place in a village."

Dave Townsend, head of development and building control at the council said that he was more than happy to hear what residents had to say.

He said: "If there are any queries, the residents can send these questions or comments directly to me and I will respond to them."

The developer, Wimpy Homes, was last night unavailable for comment.