RESIDENTS on the Fiddington Clay estate in Market Lavington are furious that Kennet councillors have capitulated to developers three months before a public inquiry was due to consider a proposal to build an estate of 17 homes there.

Those living close to the site of the proposed new housing at South Cliffe Road were preparing their case to counter Lovell Partnership's appeal against Kennet's decision to turn down a plan for 17 homes, more than half of them affordable homes for rent.

Last August, Market Lavington Parish Council agreed by just one vote not to object to the scheme, despite the fact that part of it would be outside the village limits and it would bring to more than 200 the number of homes served by just a single access road.

Parish councillor Sharon Charity described it as a victory for compassion and common sense.

But at the meeting in December of Kennet District Council's planning sub-committee, an impassioned plea from Market Lavington's district councillor, Dr John Reid, prompted councillors to go against the recommendation of their officers and turn down the scheme for 13 houses and four flats.

Lovell Partnerships immediately appealed against the decision and it was due to be discussed at a public inquiry at West Lavington Village Hall on July 23.

But at the same time the developer submitted another planning application for the site, virtually identical to the one that had been turned down.

Coun Jim Thorpe said the first application had fallen almost entirely because of Dr Reid's intervention which, he said, was overly subjective. He said the opposition from residents was an example of the NIMBY, not in my backyard, syndrome.

He said: "The parish council remains in favour and there is a local need for housing. There are employment opportunities in Market Lavington and beyond.

"It is a key corporate objective of this council to support the sustainability of villages and a useful life for young people in villages."

A report to the meeting said the Kennet housing register shows around 45 applicants with local connections seeking homes in Market Lavington.

Despite councillors acknowledging Coun Reid's continued opposition to the scheme, it was passed subject to the usual legal agreement being completed.

Dr Reid, who was unable to attend the meeting because of a hospital appointment, said after the meeting: "It is most unfortunate that I could not be there but the last time this was dealt with there was a staggering amount of support for me.

"The objections remain the same. We are short of employment land. Market Lavington is one of the largest wards in Kennet and there are very few jobs around here.

"We have more than our fair share of social housing at the moment and extra houses don't necessarily keep villages alive. Most people shop elsewhere."

Ayron Capon, who lives in The Paddock, just 20 metres from where the new homes are due to be built, was angry he and his fellow residents who are preparing for the inquiry in July had not been informed soon enough that the application was going to be discussed at Thursday's meeting.

He said: "It is absolutely sickening but quite typical of the goings-on in connection with this business. We received a letter on Wednesday to say the application was going to be dealt with on Thursday. There was no time to lobby members.

"Lovells have managed to steamroller this through. More than half this site is outside the village boundary. They are allowed to build social housing outside the boundary but not all these houses will be affordable for rent.

"We will write to the Department for the Environment and to Michael Ancram but the damage has already been done. I have had enough. I am going to put my house on the market."