THERE are continued worries in the Drybrook community as the application to build 57 new homes at Mannings Farm next to Drybrook Rugby Club has now gone to appeal.

This is due to Forest of Dean District Council’s failure to determine a decision within the assigned period of time.

Earlier this year planning officers had urged the authority’s planning committee to approve the new building development.

However due to residents objections to the proposed plans, councillors were persuaded to go against these recommendations.

According to the chair of Drybrook Parish Council, Cllr Michael Garland, the application has been managed poorly by the local planning authority and the views of the residents have been completely ignored when pointing out issues that should certainly be taken into consideration.

“Drybrook Parish Council is unanimously opposed to the proposed new large scale residential development,” he said.

Despite receiving no official consultation or detailed information for the public, over 175 local residents have already written to Forest of Dean District Council to oppose the application.

Their concerns included a worry into the over-stretching of village infrastructure, and that the extra population would be too much strain on the GP surgery, primary school, and shops in the village.