OBJECTORS were disappointed after plans for houses in a Chipping Campden field were given the go-ahead.

A group of the town's residents believe tourism to the Cotswold town could be threatened by the plans.

They say they are worried that the very beauty that attracts visitors to Chipping Campden is under attack.

More than 250 people signed a petition to say that a plan to build 40 homes in a greenfield site would affect the Cotswolds's designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

The outline development on land at Aston Road was to provide a mix of homes of one and a half and two storeys.

Suggestions that a doctor's surgery could be added to the site at a later date were removed from the application before it went before the committee.

The plan followed a previous application to build 90 homes on the same land, which was rejected.

Planners say the new scheme encroaches less into open countryside, is not a major development for the size of the town and will not have such a visual impact on the landscape.

One resident Liz Williams said: "They didn't see it as a major site but it is seen by our district councillor as a major development in the area of outstanding natural beauty.

"They think this is the right place for it but it isn't.

"Now it's got outline planning will Gloucestershire County Council sell on the land to be built on by a developer?

"We just hope it might change when it comes to full planning again."

Mrs Williams said the town brought a lot of money into the Cotswolds as a tourist destination but it was at risk of losing its attractiveness.

She said: "If they start to chip into the area of outstanding natural beauty there's all sorts of things it affects. We have to grow organically not in big chunks.

"We feel this is a major development in Chipping Campden."

Residents were also concerned about the loss of high quality arable farmland and the affect on breeding skylarks, which are protected by law whilst nesting.

However, a survey by All Ecology said the loss of the land for the skylarks was only significant locally and not on a regional or national basis.

The report suggested create skylark posts in adjacent fields to encourage the skylarks to nest elsewhere.

Fears the extra homes will bring more traffic to the town were also put forward.

Councillors voted in favour of the plan eight to six.