Could more houses provide the solution to a village's problems?

The East Farleigh Village Plan Action Group thinks they could, but others say it could open the door to developers and spoil the village forever.

The group, sponsored by the parish council, has spent the last three years considering how the village might achieve its objectives of resolving the parking and congestion problems in Vicarage Lane, preventing the continuing damage to the village's medieval bridge caused by HGVs, and establishing a village green or community orchard.

The problem is cash, which the group thinks might be solved by consenting to a limited housing development on agricultural land.

A survey conducted by the group last year achieved a 34% response rate, of whom 61% were in favour.

But Jean Hussein, of Lower Road, is among the villagers who have doubts. She said: "There was no detail in the questionnaire as to where the village green would be or how many homes would be allowed.

"We are not opposed to change, but we don't want the village to be spoilt, which is what might happen if we invite the developers in."

She suggested the number of houses needed to finance the plans would be substantial.

But Ray Morris, chairman of the action group, said: "No location for the village green has been decided and I would expect no more than six homes would be involved."

Both sides are encouraging villagers to attend a meeting at the primary school on Wednesday, March 7, at 7.30pm.

In the meantime, petition forms have been placed in the Bull, the Victory, the Victoria and the Walnut Tree, at Farleigh Forge garage in Lower Road and at the Stone Shop in Station Hill for those opposed to any building.