MODBURY residents have joined together to form a group, Modbury First, in order to fight the proposed development of 93 houses in the town.

The group, fronted by Martin Ranwell, opposes the development on a number of issues and say the plans have come from 'commercial greed not community need'.

On Monday, Mr Ranwell said: 'The Housing Needs Survey currently being undertaken by the district council is likely to show a need for 20-30 affordable homes in Modbury.

'But that shouldn't mean we have to suffer an extra 70 on top.

'Modbury is a place of great history and it will threaten the character of the town, along with exacerbating traffic and parking issues that are rife already.'

The history of Modbury includes the battleground of the 'second battle of Modbury', which took place on February 21, 1643, and Runaway Lane, named after the Royalists retreated down it after the battle, pursued by the Parliamentarians.

All of the shops in Modbury are, at present, independents apart from the Co-op.

Modbury First say they fear that an increase in the number of houses will lead to the town becoming more attractive to large chains and supermarkets.

Other issues that the group have pointed out include the blind corner at Palm Cross, which leads to the small primary school, and the positioning of the proposed entrance to the site, on Coppers Corner on the A379.

Mr Ranwell also suggests that while central government is cutting budgets, councils are relying on the increased amounts of council tax from new builds and the New Homes Bonus paid to councils, to subsidise their coffers.

He said: 'The way we should be building houses is to improve the infrastructure first: roads, rails, schools, communications etc, then provide employment opportunities and then build houses.

'But the government are doing it backwards.

'They're building houses without imp-roving the infrastructure, so the small roads have more and more vehicles on them and people have to travel long distances to work – or there's no primary school places for their children.'

The proposal, made by Bloor Homes, is for up to 93 houses from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses, a new employment building, new open space, to include a play area, allotments, transport infrastructure and improved pedestrian safety; and green infrastructure and ecological enhancements.

Martin also questions why Bloor Homes are building more large four and five bedroom houses when there are still five four-bedroom houses and one five-bedroom house unsold at Woolston Fields in Loddiswell. The five-bedroom house is on sale for £50 less than half a million pounds – well out of the price range of most locals..

Mr Ranwell continued: 'We don't need huge four and five bedroom houses, we need small two or three-bedroom starter homes for less than £100,000.

'Young people don't have a hope of getting onto the property market at the moment.'

South Hams Council were contacted for a response, but had not replied by the time we went to press.