A campaign group, which has been fighting a proposed development of about 175 homes on former greenbelt land separating two villages, is vowing to do everything it can to get the best for the community.

The Save Slate Meadow team was set-up in February last year after Wycombe District Council released their local plan highlighting the development proposal for the area of greenery which lies between Bourne End and Wooburn Green.

And despite losing its long battle with WDC in October when it was announced the five reserve sites including Slate Meadow were to be released for development, campaigners hope to continue fighting plans in a bid to get the best result they can.

Miriam Blazey, of Cores End Road, will represent the campaigners when she forms part of a liaison group who will work with the council and perspective developers to ensure any building would be right for the area.

She said: “I think from the Save Slate Meadow point of view our ultimate feeling is we do not want it built on at any cost.

“There are so many factors behind this thinking, but the main problems are parts of it are on a floodplain, it still serves the job of greenbelt by separating Bourne End and Wooburn and the infrastructure just isn’t there.

“Ideally we all want developers to see sense and realise this is a place they should just not develop.

“However, I think using our heads a bit more we realise it is going to be difficult to have our objections listened to if we are not involved.

“I hope people realise we are still against this development and fighting it but we can’t just sit back and wait for them to build what they want, if they are going to build anything we need to be able to have our say and be listened to.”

This is not the first time residents rallied to protect the land, with campaigners successfully fighting against development in the 1990s.

However, with a higher need for housing in the district, the WDC cabinet members said they had no option to release the five sites which were reserved for development.

These included Slate Meadow alongside Gomm Valley and Ashwells, Terriers Farm and Abbey Barn south and north.

The first workshop to discuss Slate Meadow will be held on Saturday, March 14, at the Community Centre in Wakeman Road, Bourne End.

To register for one of these workshops please email team@wycombe-reserve-sites.org or contact Riccardo Bobisse on 0203 290 8979.