A developer’s bid to build 50 new homes in a North Somerset village is set to be decided at a planning appeal starting today (Tuesday) – but campaigners are gearing up to fight the appeal with passionate speeches and protests.

Gladman Homes wants to build 50 houses off Wrington Lane, in Congresbury.

The application is being decided by the planning inspectorate at an appeal after North Somerset Council took too long to make up its mind on the plan. However, Gladman submitted a duplicate planning application for the site which was granted outline approval by the authority earlier this year.

Despite the second application winning approval, Gladman has decided to proceed with the original appeal – but the Congresbury Residents’ Action Group (CRAG) is vowing to fight the developer at the hearing, which starts on Monday.

Representatives from the group will speak as witnesses at the appeal and the group’s leaders are urging villagers to attend the hearing 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 nearby 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 will start at 10am at Weston Town Hall.