PLANS to create a gipsy site on land close to Malvern Link railways station have come under attack from local residents.

Since the application for the site was made public towards the end of December, Malvern Hills District Council has received 34 submissions from local residents, almost all voicing strong objections to the plan.

Malvern Town Council and Network Rail have also submitted their own objections.

The application, by S Doherty and T Donaghue of Nottingham, is for four pitches for gipsy-travellers, each with a mobile home and a touring caravan.

One resident wrote: "We feel it will have a hugely detrimental effect on the values of all the properties in Redland Road and surrounding roads and look very unsightly to anyone approaching Malvern Link station on the train. We have concerns of excess noise from the site, the safety of the residents on the site due to the close proximity to the very busy rail line and concerns about the general upkeep and removal of waste and rubbish from the site."

Another said: "The viewpoint for the area will be comprised and the proposed site will give a very poor impression of Malvern Link from the train, especially after the huge investment in improving Malvern Link station."

And another said that in 1996, plans for a touring caravan site on the land had been turned down because it was too close to the railway line and to industrial sites.

Malvern Town Council said that the site has previously been identified by the district council to alleviate parking problems, as the station car park is well used and commuters often park on nearby roadsides.

Cllr Clive Smith said: "In the emerging Neighbourhood Plan, this area is identified for a park-and-ride scheme."

Cllr Jeremy Thomas said: "It's a terrible idea. The travellers caravans con be rather large, and access through the station will be difficult. The land could well be better used to improve transport in Malvern."

And Network Rail said: "Land in the ownership of Network Rail has been included in the application and vehicles will

need to pass through the station entrance and then pass under the Network Rail-owned bridge." The company is also worried that water from the site will drain onto Network Rail's land.