COUNCILLORS in Upton are standing firm behind a bid to build a new housing estate on the edge of the town, despite huge public pressure to throw the controversial plans out.

Developer MG Property wants to build 43 homes, 22 of them affordable, at Milestone Farm, off Welland Road, in Tunnel Hill.

Upton Town Council says the town has an established need for affordable housing and the Tunnel Hill site is the best place for itto go.

But local residents are so concerned they have formed the Tunnel Hill Action Group (THAG) to fight against the proposals.

They believe Tunnel Hill is being targeted as the “easy option” when development could be spread across smaller sites in the town, and want the application thrown out so Upton can produce its own neighbourhood plan to determine future growth.

The town council has already backed MG’s original planning application. But at a council meeting ealier this month, amended plans were put before the council, and about 20 members of THAG attended the meeting and lobbied councillors to reverse their decision.

THAG member and Tunnel Hill resident Henrietta Ross said there are “a number of fundamental problems and issues with the site” and pointed out objections have already been lodged by the county highways department and Malvern Hills DIstrict Council’s landscape officer.

“The proposed development would be at odds witht he prevailing landscape and would result in an unsustainable pattern of growth, comprising a visually undesirable addition to previously undeveloped green field land while creating pressure and precedent for development on adjoining land,” she said.

However the residents’ pleas fell on deaf ears, with councillors unanimously agreeing there was no reason for them to change their original decision to back the proposed estate.

Coun Mike Ostick said the amendments were “minimal” from a planning point of view and Coun John Thompson said the plans were in line with the town council’sown housing policy.

“I was not wholeheartedly in favour of the policy, but it is our policy and therefore I think we should recommend approval,” he added.

Malvern Hills District Council will make a final decision on whether to approve the planning application.