RESIDENTS are to hold a meeting over a proposal to build 11 homes on a meadow used by families for recreation.

The plans, which are still in the early stages, involve building properties and a playing field on an area of land within the village of Well, near Bedale. Six of the homes will be affordable housing.

Villagers say they are not opposed to houses being built in the village, but say the proposed location is unsuitable. The site, behind existing homes on Bedale Road, falls within a designated conservation area and is popular with generations of children in the village who use the site for sledging in winter.

At a recent meeting, 22 residents from the village of 85 homes, expressed anger that Well Parish Council has not yet opposed the plans.

Well resident Geoffrey van Cutsem said: “This would create a small housing estate on ancient pasture within a conservation area and largely outside the village development envelope. The children of Well have for generations tobogganed on this field in the snow.

“There is no demand for commercial housing or for six affordable houses in the village; several existing homes remain unsold after months or years. Also a nearby development of affordable properties in Bedale, to sell or rent, has had virtually no uptake.”

He added: “In the last few years five homes have been built; all of which have been sympathetic and totally sensitive. But Well only has 85 houses within the 35mph zone. This involves suddenly building 11 more houses in a Greenfield. This is the wrong site.”

But chairman of Well Parish Council, Councillor Martin Jones, said the council has not yet put in a formal response to the application.

He said: “The application in question is not yet finalised. When it is, the parish council will be responding to the formal consultation; it would, therefore, be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Residents have organised a meeting to discuss the plans in Well Village Hall on April 15 at 6.30pm.

The plans are expected to go before Hambleton District Council’s planning committee at the end of April.

Mr van Cutsem said: “All the people whose houses surround the field are up in arms about it. It’s going to be a very heated meeting.”