PERSHORE residents have vowed to fight to the bitter end against plans for a housing development near Mill Lane Close.

Last summer Lansdowne Rodway Estates submitted a scheme for 100 houses to Wychavon District Council but withdrew it following public objections.

Now the firm has resubmitted scaled down plans for 85 houses but residents are still not happy.

The current scheme also includes a new roundabout on Wyre Road and two new public footpaths and cycleways. One, providing a safe access along Wyre Road to Station Road linking the community at Hurst Park Meadows to the school, town and transport centres, and the second linking the development with the existing system to the south west and the industrial estates to the north east.

Managing director of Lansdowne Rodway Estates Charles Rodway said: "After lengthy consultations and listening to local views, we have submitted our revised application for 85 housing units, 40 per cent of which will be for social housing. We will pledge a further 20 plus acres of green fields adjoining the site down to the river meadows and in the direction of Wyre Piddle to be kept forever green for the community for recreational leisure use. This could include extra playing fields for Pershore High School and a home for the Wyre Piddle Cricket Club which has been without a site of its own for many years."

Paula Lyons, of Mill Lane Close Residents' Committee, formed last year to oppose the original scheme, said: "We are still determinedly against development there. It is not designated building land and is outside the local plan area. We feel at this time it is totally unnecessary to spoil the meadow land. They are beautiful fields and the last remaining division between Wyre and Pershore."

Mrs Lyons added that the proposed development would put tremendous pressure on local services and attract a lot more traffic.

Mill Lane Close resident, George Ford said: "This development encroaches on the countryside.

"The 20 acres of land they are giving is not what it seems. It is on the flood plain and under water a lot of the year. Last year we got up a petition with 180 names on it to oppose the plans and we will be doing the same this time. This will be a fight to the bitter end."

The plans are due to go before the district council in the next six weeks.