A?PUBLIC?exhibition was held in?Whitchurch last week on a proposal to extend the Tiddybrook housing estate — but some nearby residents have already slammed the scheme on environmental grounds.

The exhibition, held by housing developer Redrow, gave visitors an idea of what the firm was planning and invited them to give feedback on the proposal and ideas to improve it.

The land in question is to the rear of Tiddybrook, bounded at the northern edge by Whitchurch Primary School, the western edge by the old railway line and houses on Whitchurch Road, and the southern edge by Anderton Lane.

The exhibition highlighted that up to 110 new homes would be built, including a significant amount of affordable housing, new recreation and play areas as well as community open space.

Improvements would be made to the national cycle route and parking would be created for cyclists and the community, land would be allocated for the possible further expansion of the school and pre-school facilities, a new public footpath would be built, enabling a link to the school, and funding would be provided to improve local services and infrastructure.

Land assistant for Redrow Rio Daniel said the plan was in the very early stages: 'We haven't even got a planning application in yet — we like to come in and get residents involved at the very early stages.

'We've spoken to people in Tiddybrook and they expressed problems with parking so we have redirected the cycle route and put in a car park for cyclists, which can also be used by others, reducing the current pressures of parking.

'We've spoken to the pre-school — the current building is old and dated — so we've said we can help towards money for a new building and also a multi-use games area for both the schools, and a new footpath up to the new school area.

'We've got feedback forms for people to fill in and what people say now will shape our plan.

'We are asking the residents what to spend money on. The local community knows the area the best and we want to know how to help them.'

Ms Daniel said there had been a mixed response from people — some wanting to know when the houses will be built because they want to buy one and some who do not want to see the development at all.

Mrs Godfrey, of Dipper Drive, was among those against the development: 'It is over-development of the area and it will spoil the environment. It doesn't have planning permission, it is greenfield land and, most importantly, the land is not designated for any development under the West Devon Borough core strategy.

'If we wanted to live in a noisy area we would live in Plymouth.'

Alison Wright, of Whitchurch Road, felt the proposal was 'completely out of the blue' at the beginning of the holidays, while many people were away: 'They have only given us ten days' notice of this exhibition. I'm utterly shocked because it is such a beautiful meadow. There is no need for it to be built on. In the original letter we received we were told it would be 75 houses, now they are saying it could be up to 110.

'The meadow needs to be there as a green area of Whitchurch — it's not a suburb, it's a village and we've got to look after it for our descendants. We are willing to put a lot of work in to stop this.'

Mrs Marie Fairall, expressed concerns about increased traffic on Buzzard Road, on which she lives.?She said it was already used as a 'rat-run' because traffic is directed through the estate and with more people using it, it would become a real problem for residents.

Mike Swift, who lives on James Road and whose house backs onto the proposed development, said he was 100% against the scheme and described it as 'absolutely disgusting'.

Jennie Dunstan, who lives in Horrabridge, said as she lives outside she felt she could look at the plans objectively: 'I think everyone needs a home. The biggest problem is going to be access, particularly at the junction by the post office.

'On the other hand if they improve that junction, more people will use it. I think the idea of moving the cycle track is very good — I gather that is quite a problem, and as it gets more busy it may be an idea to enlarge the car park they have proposed.

'I think the development is inevitable. The notion of every new place being built should have community space is a good idea because it's the only thing that really brings people together.'

Redrow said it hoped to set up a pre-application meeting with the borough council with the feedback collected from the exhibition.