Objections are rising up against plans for hundreds of homes in Devizes.

If developer Pegasus Group gets the green light by council officials, there could be 235 homes, a selection of retail units, a hot food takeaway and a “drinking establishment” on land between Windsor Drive and Coate Road.

At a meeting of Bishops Cannings Parish Council this week, it was decided to try to call in the planning application.

Parish councillor Eric Clark said: “We are objecting to the development and asking for the plans to be called in.

“If everybody asks for the plans to be called in, they will be debated by Wiltshire Councillors, rather than be a decision by planning officers who may decide by differing criteria

“In addition this is not one of the sites identified in the Neighbourhood Plan. There have been a number of other unsuccessful applications in very recent years - all of which have been rejected. In one instance the developers tried to force the plans through in a court action - which also failed, with the Neighbourhood Plan being given great weight at that time.”

Submitting their responses to Wiltshire Council’s planning portal, people warned that the sheer scale of houses would “decimate” local wildlife.

Other concerns surrounded, as is the case with many development proposals in the town, the impact on road infrastructure, and whether roads in Devizes could cope with such an increase in cars.

Clifford Evans wrote: “I have grave concerns about the significant increase in road traffic volumes that will result from this development.

“There will be a detrimental effect on road safety as more traffic is introduced onto the the main A361 which is already heavily congested, particularly in the morning and evening.”

Julie Lawless added: “I regularly have to navigate access onto Windsor Drive from Harebell Way and whilst doing so take my life in my hands due to the excessive speed of vehicles coming down the hill towards the traffic lights, the 40 mph limit is constantly ignored!

“The proposed area is at present a beautiful piece of open countryside full of fauna and flora which will be destroyed only to be replaced by concrete, litter and pollution and thereby destroying natural habitats for many creatures and ruining yet more countryside. Please don’t let this happen.”

Tom Taylor added: “Ah yes let’s build yet more houses but not do anything about the road infrastructure that is already overwhelmed and cannot cope with amount of traffic on the road. Not to mention the impact on the local wildlife which is being decimated by the constant development.”

The Pegasus Group was contacted for comment.

Their planning documents promise “a strong sense of place” at the site and explain that a number of surveys, on trees and local wildlife for example, have already been explored.

In planning documents, they add: “The site is well connected to the surrounding urban area of Devizes, and benefits from easy access to public transport and strategic highway links within close proximity of the site.”