Lose our pub and become a town? Not for us, thanks

So say Fernhill Heath residents who are worried two separate developments will change the face of their village.

Taylor Wimpey have submitted an outline planning application to build 120 homes on land off Dilmore Lane, while David Wilson wants to build 90 homes off Kennels Lane.

Villagers say they also fear losing the popular pub,The White Hart, after it was suggested it could be demolished to make room for a roundabout.

The planning application currently submitted for land off Dilmore Lane does not require the pub to be demolished.

Instead a signalised pedestrian crossing is proposed at the busy A38/Hurst Lane junction.

However, emails between engineers and the county council's highways team within the application show the pub would have to be demolished and a roundabout created if the development grew any bigger.

Villagers say this could happen becauseTaylor Wimpey has purchase options on farmland north of Dilmore Lane and on the White Hart.

Bob Hollis, of the Fernhill Heath residents association, said: "Two of the pubs in Fernhill Heath, the Bull and the Halfway House, are up for sale.

"It could be that we go from three pubs to none."

He added: "The development is going into open countryside.

"There are no natural boundaries to stop further urban sprawl.

"It changes the nature of the village into that of a small town."

Mr Hollis said there were only two shops and a post-office in the village, no school places available and an "inadequate" bus service.

He said: "It's not a very sustainable or ecologically friendly area to build on.

"People will have to use cars.

"There's no employment in the village and they are not planning to put in any more infrastructure, doctors surgeries or pharmacy.

"It's inappropriate development."

The association wants people to object to both plans. Today is the last day the public can comment on the applications.

Taylor Wimpey wants to build 120 two-to-four bedroom homes on fields to the west of Dilmore Lane with an emergency access created via Firlands Close.

David Wilson has applied to build 88 new one-to-five bedroom houses and apartments on land at the Worcestershire Hunt Kennels. A stable building would be converted in to two further homes.

Dave Hammond, housing and planning services manager at Wychavon said: “The current applications have no requirement for The White Hart Pub to be demolished."

"The application is still available to comment on, so if villagers have any concerns they still have the opportunity to make those views known."

He advised people to do so via wychavon.gov.uk

A spokesman from Worcestershire county council said the council was considering the proposals and its investigations were ongoing.

No one from Taylor Wimpey was available for comment.