A BRITISH DJ and musician has formed his own local band of vocal villagers to campaign against unwanted development in his home village.

Matt Black, one half of music duo Coldcut and who has produced hits including Yazz's The Only Way Is Up, is fronting a campaign to block CALA Homes' plans to build 33 houses on Little Shoe Broad which locals say is home to an abundance of wildlife and is prone to flooding.

Mr Black and a backing group of four other residents formed Blockley Environment Action Group to fight against developers last year. In November more than 100 villagers turned out for a candlelit vigil outside Little Village Hall where CALA Homes was holding a public meeting to discuss its proposals.

An outline planning application was submitted to Cotswold District Council in March and is thought may be discussed at the mid-July planning meeting

“Blockley is a village and local residents want it to remain so. We’re determined to fend off repeated bids to turn it into a suburban dormitory town.

“To build on this ancient field would have far-reaching and disastrous consequences It would damage the setting of the conservation area jewel that is Blockley,” said Mr Black.

The campaign group says wildlife would suffer from having their habitat taken away from them.

“The CALA estate will concrete over wildlife habitats. To lose this rich habitat would further compound the difficulties all these endangered species face,” he added.

“The site includes high-risk flood zones. Those of us who were living in the village in 2007 know that the field was a series of huge lakes which were being filled by the run-off water cascading down from the high ground to the south.

“The water was running so fast that the Draycott Road became a rushing river and any building on the field would have certainly suffered significant flood damage. Existing adjacent properties would also have suffered flooding because the run-off would have been more restricted."

Campaigners also state Blockley's narrow roads were already overused and more traffic would increase accident risk.

The campaign group also said Blockley Parish Council's survey showed there was no need for estates like CALA’s application in Blockley. They found near zero demand for further social housing, the village had limited facilities and infrastructure and there were few employment opportunities.

“If this estate is approved it will set a precedent for more ribbon development along our roads,” he said. “We must stand united and keep Blockley a village. We, in Blockley and surrounding villagers, who will also bear the impact of the development, must tell Cotswold District Council what we think as soon as possible. They have to listen to your voice so if you don’t want a housing estate plonked down next to you, write to Cotswold District Council and tell them so."

The group is urging people to make their representations to the district council as soon as possible.

To find out more about the campaign write to: yourbeag@hotmail.com