HARTFORD Village Trust has accused developers of submitting the Grange Farm housing plan scheme during the busy Christmas period to prevent full scrutiny by residents.

Redrow Homes, of Flintshire, put in the planning application for 350 homes to Vale Royal Borough Council on December 8 - and residents and concerned parties had until December 28 to raise comments.

But Trust spokesman Keith Sexton said: "We are convinced the application has been chosen to coincide with Christmas to prevent proper scrutiny.

"The developers have also increased the number of dwellings in its plan since they originally proposed 300 homes during a consultation process in July."

Redrow's plans, on the 17.88 hectare greenfield site, off Chester Road, also include a medical centre and a community hall.

The Trust, Hartford Parish Council and residents have raised issues about traffic congestion, parking, use of a greenfield site, and a lack of facilities to deal with an increased population.

And the borough council stated that any plans for more than 300 homes would have to be reviewed.

Hartford Borough Councillor Shirley Harris also pointed out that the borough council has since announced that the region has 1,000 too many houses.

A Redrow spokesman added: "We took the first possible opportunity to submit the planning application.

"The whole exercise has been carried out in consultation with the public and the borough council."

Hartford Village Trust sought an extension for further comments to be considered after the December 28 deadline expired, but this was rejected.

A Trust spokesman added: "We have talked to a lot of people who are opposed to the development but they admitted they have been too busy to forward an official objection."

The Trust pledged to fight on and is urging Vale Royal Borough Council to reject the planning application.