CHIPPENHAM town councillor Chris Gale is threatening to stand in front of the bulldozers in a battle with developers over the future of a piece of land off Rowden Lane, Chippenham.

Developers Redcliffe Homes and Laing Homes have submitted a planning application for 138 new homes on the land even though the previous application for 108 homes is still awaiting the outcome of an appeal.

As residents gear up to fight the new development, Coun Gale has said he also wants to protect a stretch of ancient hedgerow on the site.

He said: "This development would not only be a blight on local residents and add to the already difficult local traffic situation, it would also destroy one of the last remaining green spaces in town and destroy a very old hedgerow and brook.

"Unimpeded, ill-thought out, environmentally damaging housing developments are ruining our ancient town and landscape.

"We are destroying important habitats, reducing biodiversity, adding to traffic problems and damaging communities."

In January, North Wiltshire District Council threw out the joint application for 108 homes.

Martin Singlehurst, of Rowden Lane, a member of the River Valley Protection Group, said it is concerned about the environmental impact of the development.

It is determined to protect the two brooks, Pudding Brook and Ladyfield Brook.

Mr Singlehurst said the group had submitted comments to the district council about the new application.

"We have had a look at the new plans and our comment is primarily that we don't understand why a new application is coming forward when the appeal won't be heard until September. What's going on? What's the point of this?"

He said their concerns with the previous application had still not been addressed in the new one.

"If anything, there is less information in the new application about traffic flows and what would be done for the environment," he said.

"Not only the hedgerows would be affected. We are worried about the brooks, which are already damaged by the developments at Cepen Park South."

The amended application for 138 dwellings with roads and public open space will be brought before Chippenham Town Council's planning and environment committee for comment tonight.