TOWN councillors have given support to a housing development in spite of a residents protests. Members of Royston Town Council s planning committee decided to support a revised plan for a site in Green Drift, Royston. But residents are determined to co

TOWN councillors have given support to a housing development in spite of a residents' protests.

Members of Royston Town Council's planning committee decided to support a revised plan for a site in Green Drift, Royston.

But residents are determined to continue their battle against the scheme when it is considered by North Herts District Council's planning control committee.

The plans submitted by Croudace Homes are to develop 11 dwelling on the site at 16-20 Green Drift.

Liz Hales, who represented the Green Drift and nearby Mallard Way residents, told the committee that the scheme still had "a lot of room for improvement".

She said there were still too many dwellings on the site in spite of the developer in the new scheme reducing the number from 14 to 11 properties.

The scheme, she said, would affect the quality of life of residents in the surrounding area.

"Just because we have seen a reduction in the number of dwellings doesn't mean that it still not an overdevelopment of the site," she said.

Cllr Rod Kennedy said, however: "Our only objection can be on planning terms - and on planning terms there cannot be an objection.

"We've been going around in circles over this site and this is a scheme where the developer could well win any planning appeal," he said.

"This development whether we like it or not meets the planning criteria," added Cllr Kennedy.

And Cllr Lindsay Davidson warned: "We cannot be too antagonistic or too aggressive over this otherwise the developers will dig their heels in."

In April, the district council's Royston area committee rejected the scheme for 14 dwelling on the site and described it as an over-development and out of character with the area.

Members branded the developers as "arrogant" because earlier comments had been ignored and an earlier rejected scheme was re-submitted virtually unchanged.

Committee chairman Cllr Fiona Hill said the developers were "arrogant" and acting in "a high-handed manner".