RESIDENTS held a protest yesterday outside the Stanneylands Hotel to show their opposition to a major housing scheme.

Plans by David Wilson Homes for 174 homes off Stanneylands Road in Wilmslow have come under fire from more than 800 residents worried about their impact on over-stretched GP surgeries and schools and predicting traffic gridlock.

The residents group fighting the scheme wants as many people as possible to attend the Cheshire East meeting due to discuss the scheme this week.

The plans are due to go before the Strategic Planning Board on Wednesday, November 22, at 10.30am.

The reference for the plans is 17/4521, and they can be found on the planning section of the Cheshire East website. The target date for a decision on the scheme is December 7.

A spokesman for Residents Against Little Stanneylands Development said on Facebook: "As councillors arrived to view the proposed Little Stanneylands development at 10.30am this morning [yesterday, Friday], a group of protestors gathered outside the Stanneylands Hotel to make their feelings known.

"Within a one-hour period, Stanneylands Road became gridlocked on at least six occasions with HGV vehicles trying to make their way to Manchester Road.

"Cars and lorries were forced to reverse and perform U-turns on this already extremely dangerous road.

"One member of the public sustained minor injuries whilst trying to walk her dog as she was forced to dive into a hedgerow to avoid being hit by a car and the traffic situation became so bad the police had to attend the scene.

"All this took place right in front of our elected representatives, and if any of them hold even the slightest regard for our community, our environment and our safety, they'll vote against this totally ridiculous development."

Last Wednesday more than one hundred residents attended at the Stanneylands Hotel to discuss the housing scheme and to share advice and views.