Fears of overflowing sewage have prompted dozens of objections against plans to build 32 houses in the village of Aldbourne.

The development is earmarked for Lottage Farm, so would see agricultural land being built, effectively extending the village boundary.

“ How is it going to manage with more houses?” said resident Margaret Alexander. “The Square is a disgrace with pumps filling the parking spaces since before Christmas and with no signs of them being moved away.

“I appreciate that homes are needed but surely the sewage facilities should be adequate for the houses already built before adding to the number.”

Many fear the development, from Cirencester based company Pegasus, would also mean extra traffic on Lottage Road and into the village centre.

“Lottage Road is already blocked on one side as housing has no car parking spaces and therefore park on the road.

“The junction with Oxford Street is already very dangerous and traffic cannot be seen coming down the hill from Baydon, it is a wonder there haven’t been more accidents there.”

Another resident, Paul Blatchford wrote to Wiltshire Council saying: “If 32 homes are built, on average this means an extra 60 plus vehicles parked and will add significantly to road movements.

“Thames Water has suggested it has no objection based on what they have been told but the whole village knows there are flooding issues every year.

“Building over the site will increase run off of rainwater and add to the water flow.

“Adding this number of homes onto the mains sewage will increase the burden on an overflowing system.

Back in 2013, a Thames Water spokesman said the sewer system in some parts of the region was unable to cope with the volume of rainwater going into the drains.

It has installed a mobile sewage treatment plant near the library, reducing the need for pumping trucks.

“Aldbourne is an area prone to high groundwater levels and this can lead to the sewers becoming overwhelmed when this underground water seeps into the pipes and causes localised flooding," said a spokesperson. "We’re working hard to mitigate the impact of this as much as we can, and have more work planned to further reduce this water getting into the sewers.”

Wiltshire councillor James Sheppard said: “The residents of Aldbourne are rightly concerned about the village sewage system.

“The village has greatly increased in size since the system was installed and is now at point where the pipe work struggles to cope. Before any more development takes place in the village the sewage system in Aldbourne needs to have a vastly increased capacity.”

The plans are now before Wiltshire Council.