'Are all these houses needed? They're just building for the sake of building'

FAMILIES living in a quiet cul-de-sac are opposing plans to build more than 1,100 houses on fields behind their homes.

- Jon Bamber

Neighbours in Gaskell Road, Bucknall, were shocked when they learned the greenbelt land backing onto their properties has been earmarked for development as part of 1,139 homes planned for the Eaves Lane area in Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Local Plan.

They have rallied around a campaign to stop it happening and a residents meeting is planned to discuss the proposals and plan their fight against the proposals.

Germano and Nelly Ferrari have lived in the street for four years.

Germano, aged 48, said: "We were shocked when we heard they want to build homes. They have just finished a big development towards Werrington. Are all these houses needed? They are just building for the sake of building.

"There are enough brownfield sites they could build on. If you keep building on the green land there will be none left.

"We need this greenbelt here. This could become a through road to the estate. At the moment we live in a quiet cul-de-sac."