Village poll on plans for South Staffordshire affordable homes

Scores of residents turned out at Pattingham Village Hall to have their say on proposals for 19 homes which have been earmarked for land in Hall End Lane even though it was not on the agenda for the meeting.

Protestors complain that the village cannot sustain any more houses with fears there will be added congestion to the roads and that house prices will plummet.

They hope a poll will show exactly how many are in favour and how many are against the scheme.

However, Councillor Simon Ponder said objections were rooted in 'snobbery' from long-standing villagers who did not want newcomers.

To a chorus of jeers, he told objectors: "These are affordable properties. You all want to live in Pattingham but you think no one else should. It's just snobbery."

During the meeting residents questioned councillors on whether they added themselves or family members to the waiting list for the properties.

And Robert Lines, who lives in Hall End Lane, called for the scheme to be halted until the results of the poll were known.

He told councillors: "You need to respect the voice of the people."

The plans which have been drafted by Housing group Housing Plus were formally unveiled to residents last week. Of the 19 homes, five will be bungalows, with 11 of the properties for rent and the rest in a shared-ownership scheme.

The firm says of the 275 people who went to an event to look at the plans opinion was 'evenly split' and the organisation would go through comments before deciding whether to proceed.

Anyone applying must have lived in Pattingham, Burnhill Green or Patshull for three of the past five years, or 10 of the last 20.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Joan Burton who announced that a further meeting would be called on August 21 to set the question which would be the subject of a poll in the middle of September.

The hope was to allow as many people to return from summer holidays in time to have their say on proposals, she said.