A planning appeal to decide whether 50 new homes should be built in Congresbury got underway this week, with campaigners vehemently fighting the proposal with passionate speeches and protests.

Developer Gladman Homes wants to build 50 houses off Wrington Lane, but the application is being decided by the planning inspectorate at an appeal after North Somerset Council took too long to decide on the proposal.

However, Gladman submitted a duplicate planning application for the site, which was granted outline approval by the authority earlier this year, but despite winning this approval Gladman decided to proceed with the original appeal.

The Congresbury Residents’ Action Group (CRAG) vowed not to give up without a fight and will be speaking as witnesses at the appeal, which startedon Tuesday.

The group’s leaders are urging villagers to attend the hearing throughout the rest of the week and make their voices heard.

CRAG chairman Mary Short said: “Our members who live close to the site have worked hard and done a magnificent job preparing the case.

“They know the area intimately and can see how damaging such a development would be.

“They know it would mean a huge increase in road traffic to and from the proposed site because it is so far from most village amenities.”

Mary also said the plan should be rejected because a separate proposal to build 38 homes in nearby Cobthorn Way had already been approved by the council.

She added: “To put another 50 homes in the same area would be little short of vandalism.”

The appeal at Weston Town Hall will end tomorrow (Friday).