A PUBLIC meeting in Weaverham has revealed the strength of opposition towards plans to build on land in the area.

More than 40 residents attended a meeting to consider proposals from developers NPL Estates on Thursday evening.

The plans, which have not yet been formally submitted, involve swapping a large amount of green belt land near Weaverham High School for the school's current playing fields.

The Scottish company would provide the school with new sports facilities and would aim to build houses on the existing playing fields, where planning permission is more likely to be granted.

But the proposals are being opposed by residents living near both the playing fields and the green belt land.

Hazel Sweeney, a Holly Road resident who chaired the meeting, said the gathering was very successful.

She said: "There was definitely a lot of support from people and everyone is keen to set up a residents' association.

"People are worried about all sorts of things, such as extra traffic and the strain on the area's resources."

Miss Sweeney said another meeting would be held in the near future to set up a residents' association.

Concerned villagers have already sent out leaflets to more than 200 houses in Weaverham and they are hoping to get support from the Weaverham Trust.

Tony Daffern, chairman of Weaverham Trust, said he did not want to comment on the proposals until they were formally submitted to the county council.

Parish councillor Richard Gorrill said any development on the land was a long way off but he could understand why residents were worried.

He said: "NPL owns the land and it's going to do something with it. The residents realise it will at some point put a planning application in and they think they had better do something about it as soon as possible."

rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk