£10k fund to fight 'unprecedented' wave of bids to build town homes

Campaigners fear Eccleshall could soon double in size

- Kerry Ashdown

COMMUNITY leaders have agreed a £10,000 budget to fight planning applications for large housing developments in their town.

People in Eccleshall fear it could almost double in size over the coming years - with hundreds of new homes earmarked for 10 sites.

A campaign group, We Love Eccleshall, is fighting what parish councillor Chris Wilkins described as an 'unprecedented wave of housebuilding' at a packed public meeting last month. And an online petition at Change.org, titled Protecting Our Town from Over-Development, has now received more than 2,700 signatures.

Following the public meeting, We Love Eccleshall is setting up a website and urging residents to comment on planning applications for new housing developments when they are submitted to Stafford Borough Council.