RESIDENTS have voiced concerns over a planning application for 77 homes in Stanford in the Vale.

David Wilson Homes hopes to build a new estate to the west of the A417.

The development would consist of two to five-bedroom homes, 40 per cent of which would be affordable housing.

Previous planning applications for the site have been turned down because the main road separates it from the rest of the village.

Mother-of-three Jane Braddy, 42, said: “My concern is for children going to school across a really busy road.

“It is going to have an impact on the school one way or another.

“My son’s class is already full, and it would be a tragedy for the school to have to build anything on their field.

“The reason we moved here is that it is a lovely country village, I wouldn’t want Stanford to become Faringdon or Wantage.”

The site is next to the Horse and Jockey pub, run by Charles and Anna Gaunt, who said the land was prone to flooding.

Mrs Gaunt said: “I would like some kind of reassurance that the water which is going to be displaced is not going to run into my car park.

“The drains already struggle to cope with the amount of effluence that goes through the main village.

“The access road they are planning is immediately to the side of the pub, and that will be carrying not only family traffic but heavy construction vehicles.”

She added: “This is a smashing village, but once they have been allowed to build on that side of the road will they build another estate behind that?”

John Henshall, 70, recently sold his home in Stanford, but he said the deal almost fell through when a prospective buyer found out about the new development.

“He loved the house, but he lost interest when he found out about the development,” he said.

He added the 120-house Forest Grove development on the opposite side of the road, also by David Wilson Homes, was called “toy town” locally.

“The houses are cheek by jowl,” said Mr Henshall, “three storey town houses in the middle of a rural village, and the roundabout is off-centre; the planning is absolutely atrocious.”

Stanford Parish Council recently conducted a housing survey among villagers to canvas opinion about development, and the results are now being processed.

Parish council clerk Mike Dew said: “This is a bit of a shock to the village.

“Personally, I would not like to see it because there is not the infrastructure, I don’t think the sewage system could cope.”

Simon Kirk, of David Wilson Homes Southern, said: “We are aware of all of the concerns raised by residents.

“We have carried out the appropriate studies that have addressed the concerns which have accompanied the planning application and are currently awaiting these to be considered by the appropriate authorities.”

Vale of White Horse District Council is due to make a decision on the plans on January 31.

More information will be available at a public exhibition on Wednesday, October 24, at Stanford village hall.