By RACHEL SPENCER

PEOPLE in Lymm opposing what they see as unsuitable development are urging their neighbours to unite and fight to protect the character of their villages.

Protesters camped out at The Cross over the weekend to drum up support, with groups travelling from neighbouring villages to meet them.

And thousands of leaflets have been sent out, encouraging people to go along to a protest outside the Town Hall at 11am this Saturday, April 28, to make their fears known.

Organiser Andrew Wilson said: "People are becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of say they have in the way their communities develop.

"The consensus of opinion is that the council does not care about the people of south Warrington, but it sees us as a cash cow, contributing to the overall coffers of the council but getting little in return.

"What is clear is that there is a strong sense of injustice."

He says that new development is putting a strain on villages' infrastructure, that facilities are overwhelmed and that roads are crowded and in a poor state of repair. More money needs to be invested in leisure and social amenities, he believes.

He added: "With a General Election pending, our MPs and the council have to be made aware of the strength of feeling that exists. Bring a banner, a flag, a hooter or whistle. Bring a friend or neighbour and let your voice be heard."

As the Guardian went to press, the borough council's development control committee was discussing plans for four detached houses and two two-and-a-half-storey mews properties at the former coal yard site on Rushgreen Road.

A larger scheme, put forward by developer Redrow Homes for a mixture of two-, two-and-a-half- and three-storey homes at a site at the junction of Millers Lane and Rushgreen Road, was also being discussed.

Members of the committee visited the site to scrutinise the scheme earlier this month. An appeal has already been lodged by Redrow with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions against the non-determination of this application.