RESIDENTS in Kingswinford have been drawing up battle lines for a fight against plans to build 650 homes on the site of a former quarry.

Urban Remediation Ltd has lodged plans with Dudley Council to build up a new housing estate on the site of the old Ketley Quarry.

Mainly two and three-bedroom properties would be provided, planning documents state, as well as some four-bedroom and a smaller proportion of one-bedroom maisonettes – and the homes would be arranged in small clusters and cul-de-sacs.

The applicant has said the old quarry has now been infilled and is ready for development which would bring an economic boost to the borough and make use of a brownfield site.

Residents, however, fear the plan would result in an influx of 2,600 new people to the area which they say would add more pressure to already stretched services such as schools, GP surgeries and the borough’s main hospital.

They also fear a proposed through-road from Bromley Lane into Dudley would create traffic chaos.

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The plan was announced just before Christmas in newspaper public notices and the deadline for objections is just days away – on Thursday January 12.

Campaigner Natalie Turner, of the Crestwood Park Residents Action Group, said many people in the area may not have heard about the plan let alone have time to lodge comments or objections with Dudley planners.

The action group has organised an emergency public meeting to take place on Monday January 9 at The Crestwood Pub, from 6pm, for people to find out more.

The group has also delivered more than 1,000 leaflets to homes in the area to make people aware.

Natalie said: “We won't go down without a fight.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about the action group’s campaign efforts can email crestwoodprag@gmail.com or check out the Crestwood Park Residents Action Group on Facebook.