PLANS to build 230 homes on fields on the edge of Devizes have taken another step forward as developers try to get the detail of the scheme approved.

David Wilson Homes has permission to build on the land near the canal between Bishops Cannings and Devizes but there are still a number of smaller issues that need to be agreed.

This week it applied to Wiltshire Council to get approval for reserved matters which include a new access from Horton Road, open space, landscaping and drainage.

Bishops Cannings Parish Council is due to discuss the project tonight (Thursday Jan 14). Chairman Paul Robinson said: "We were very much against this plan but there is nothing we can do now to stop the actual development. We can only look at the detail."

But Roger Johnson of Wellington Drive is particularly upset about the layout of the scheme. He has written to Wiltshire Council to object about dangers from balancing ponds to be built as part of the drainage scheme. In his letter he said: "Having reviewed some of the documents I can only guess that you have allowed the location of some of the social housing and 2.5 storey property opposite my property as a penance for my disagreement of this whole housing proposal."

He called farcical documents which claimed the environmental impact on the wildlife of Lay Wood would be minimal. He is also worried about danger to children and wrote: "The drainage scheme which I take as being the purpose of this 'consultation looks to create two balance ponds for surface water run off. Balance ponds tend to flood and empty in line with the weather and when full of water are hazards to children. The provision of fencing which normally comes into disrepair after a few years and the provision of a life saving ring is normally vandalised after a short space of time and these balance ponds tend to not feature in any maintenance agreement."

People turned out in force to protest about the Lay Wood scheme when it was discussed by Wiltshire Council on the same day in 2014 as plans for 350 houses at nearby Coate Bridge.

Protesters were angry that the council voted to approve the Lay Wood scheme but to continue fighting the Coate Bridge proposal. Since then an appeal by developers on Coate Bridge was turned down by a Government inspector but a second appeal by builders Mactaggart and Mickel is still pending.