NEIGHBOURS of a rural Bracknell Forest village are rallying together to save their green fields and halt overdevelopment in its tracks.

Hayley Green residents have formed an action group after a proposal to include a minimum of 235 homes in the Warfield Neighbourhood Plan emerged, plans they believe will threaten the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Warfield district - its green space.

A petition ‘Keep the Green in Hayley Green’ has also been tabled, following fears the green fields behind the Cricketers pub in Cricketers Lane will be totally swallowed up.

At the moment, there are just over 100 houses in the hamlet, with the proposed development, which would be built entirely on open fields, trebling the size of the village.

Residents are keen to preserve the village’s rural character and believe areas rather than the green fields, would be more suited to development.

They argue they were not made fully aware of the plans until a map was presented on October 4 last year.

Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. They are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built.

Rev Tim Norman, who is chairing the action group, said: “We were presented with a plan to put a lot of houses in the village but nobody was consulted.

“Well over 70 per cent of residents have expressed dissatisfaction and want to be heard. We’re asking that the character of the village is maintained. A lot of people are keen that the character particularly around the pub is kept.

“We want it to still feel like a village rather than a housing estate. We’d be delighted to welcome new houses when it’s done in a sensitive way but we’re not convinced that the current planning is sympathetic.”