PEOPLE who fear building more houses in Calne would bring greater levels of traffic and flooding have added their voices to protests about a plan to create another 154 homes in the town.

The application by developer CG Fry & Son would see houses constructed on land south of White Horse Way, next to John Bentley School, with access from Silver Street.

It is the third application in as many years in the area and is almost double the amount of housing previously suggested.

The town council planning committee objected to the development in early June and several residents have also sent comments to Wiltshire Council.

In a letter to the council, Christopher Glennon, of Maple Close, said: “It raises some suspicion as to the developer’s intention from the offset that this application shows yet another increase in numbers of dwellings being applied for.

“Originally it was for half this number. If these dwellings are constructed, this land, and the adjacent estates, will be negatively impacted.

“The proposed scheme is completely different to the adjacent Silver Glade estate and thus out of character.

“This area is well understood by local residents to experience flash flooding along White Horse Way and subsequently down Silver Street after heavy and prolonged periods of rain.

“This water run-off from the fields will be even more significant once the land is covered with these 154 dwellings and associated infrastructure.”

Director of CG Fry & Son, David Lohfink, said: “The Silver Street site already benefits from detailed planning permission for 154 dwellings with access from Silver Street itself.

“While we understand local concerns about various aspects of the development of this site, all the key issues (access and traffic implications, flooding and flood risk, housing needs, biodiversity impacts and so forth) were considered at that time and found to be acceptable.

“Nothing has materially changed in the meantime regarding these key issues.

“The scheme currently before Wiltshire Council is similar in terms of both access arrangements and general site layout, and seeks changes to the details of the scheme.

“We remain confident that we have adequately dealt with the concerns expressed and we look forward to the positive determination of this application by Wiltshire Council.”

A previous application, which dates back to May 2014, asked to build 72 houses, with another submitted in January 2015 for 83 homes.

The target date for a decision is set for August 12 after 13 letters of complaint from residents were sent to the council before the consultation period closed.