WITH plans to build 270 homes in Witney’s Windrush Valley set to be considered by West Oxfordshire District Council, it is crucial that all voices are heard.

So it is refreshing that a group of residents have created an organised and professional campaign to drum up opposition to the scheme.

They have produced 1,000 posters and are asking neighbours to put them in their windows, as well as starting a website and an online petition.

It would be easy for them to sit back and allow other people to campaign on their behalf but these residents have decided something needs to be done about this proposal.

They have raised a number of concerns over the proposed site, including its impact on the landscape of the Windrush valley, flooding risks, increased traffic, air pollution and its close proximity to a gas storage site.

Whether these concerns have been taken into account by the developer Gladman Homes, which held a public consultation last month, will soon be clear when its planning application is made public.

The documents are now in the hands of the district council and while it will be decided on its planning merits rather than the scale of opposition, residents’ voices need to be heard loud and clear.

Thanks to a group of ordinary people who are standing up for what they believe in, their concerns will have to be taken into account when a decision is finally made.