Protest against controversial housing plans in South Staffordshire

It came 24 hours after residents descended on Pattingham Village Hall to confront councillors about leaked plans for 40 homes.

Protestors complain that the village cannot sustain any more houses with fears on road congestion and falling house prices.

Dozens met at The Pigot Arms in the village to officially kick off their campaign.

Land south of the village in Hall End Lane has been earmarked for development following a survey carried out by Housing Plus Group and South Staffordshire District Council in 2010 into the need for more houses to meet Government targets.

James Dyas, aged 28, who lives opposite one of the two proposed sites, which are close to each other, said: "How many people taking that survey in 2010 knew that it was to build this many homes in the village?

"There needs to be a more up to date survey. For the number of homes they're talking about there would need to be 80 car parking spaces and we predict there'll be more than 400 car journeys made down our road. Pattingham isn't big enough to sustain those numbers."

Robert Lines added: "I don't think that Pattingham Parish Council has looked at these plans and challenged them. I think they have simply acquiesced to them."

At Wednesday's meeting parish council chairman Joan Burton said the proposals had not yet been accepted and people's views would be taken into account. She added: "This seems to be a case of 'not in my back yard' when there are families in need of housing."