AROUND 130 public objections have been lodged against a plan to build a 250-home estate next to the SAS base at Credenhill west of Hereford – with none yet published in support.

Put forward by local firm James Spreckley Ltd, the outline planning application (number 262019) has proved controversial from the off, with the Ministry of Defence claiming it would compromise security at the base, known as Stirling Lines.

Credenhill Parish Council has now said the scheme “cannot be supported in its present form” as its scale “cannot currently be accommodated” locally.

Nearby schools are “at capacity with no clear expansion plan”, local primary health care already is “struggling to meet demand”, while developer contributions to improve healthcare “are uncertain and historically difficult to secure”, the councillors said.

Neighbouring Stretton Sugwas Parish Council also said a development of this scale had the potential to exacerbate existing drainage and flooding issues in the area.

Stretton Sugwas resident Dexter Murgatroyd claimed the new estate would bring more than 400 extra vehicles onto local roads, taking “congestion to breaking point”, particularly at the proposed access point to the estate off the A480.

While not objecting outright, Herefordshire Council’s own transport officer K Jones said the plan “does not propose any walking, cycling or public transport improvements within the vicinity, which is disappointing for a development of up to 250 dwellings”.

Nor was there an assessment made of links eastwards towards Hereford, “which potentially offers the opportunity for residents to travel to work, secondary schools and colleges by bicycle”, they wrote.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Herefordshire Council has set a target date of October 22 to determine the bid, which if not refused outright is likely to be passed to county councillors to decide on.