Villagers are to be asked for their views on plans for 200 new homes after 400 people packed a public meeting to discuss the controversial scheme.

The meeting took place at the Melbourn Community Hub on Thursday, and the main item on the agenda was the blueprint for 200 new homes on land next to New Road in the village.

Organised by the village’s district councillors, Jose Hales and Val Barratt, the meeting was attended by planning officers from South Cambridgeshire District Council, who fielded questions about the council’s local development plan.

The site was initially included in the plan, but was then removed after villagers mounted a campaign to protect it.

However, Cambridge-based developers Endurance Estates are going ahead with the scheme, and have started conducting consultation.

Councillor Hales said he was impressed by the turn-out at the meeting.

He said: “Councillor Barratt and I would like to extend our thanks to the community of Melbourn for turning out in large numbers to voice their opinions.

“Endurance Estates has decided to go ahead with this development even though it has been rejected by the community.

“They have decided to steam ahead and railroad it through, and I think the community are beyond upset about this.”

Following the meeting, Melbourn Parish Council has established the Melbourn Futures Committee which will distribute a consultation document to every household in the village for people to have their say on whether they want to see more housing in Melbourn.

The survey period will run from next Tuesday, September 23, to Tuesday, October 14.

“Once we’ve collated the results we’ll publish them, and have a clear picture of what the village thinks,” said Councillor Hales.

“The results will shape whether the Melbourn Futures Committee supports this development or opposes it.”

Mike Swann was part of the Melbourn Housing Development Awareness Campaign, which lobbied against the New Road site being included in the local plan.

He said: “Melbourn is not against housing development as such – we’ve already accepted 64 new homes at Victoria Way, and with the other small developments around the village we’ve probably got 100 or so new properties being built.

“But to put 200 houses on this site is just completely wrong.”

What do you think? Can Melbourn cope with more housing? Email postbag@royston-crow.co.uk.