OPPONENTS of controversial plans to extend Malvern with a new development of 700 homes say a special planning meeting next month has become a “key battleground” for the future of the town.

Members of Malvern Hills District Council will once again debate the contents of the South Worcestershire Development Plan – an emerging blueprint for growth up until 2030 – at a special meeting on Tuesday, November 27.

If approved here – and by neighbouring Worcester City and Wychavon councils on the same evening – the SWDP will continue onward for government inspection and a likely adoption late in 2013.

Malvern is facing allocations of 700 homes at Newland, 250 at the QinetiQ site in St Andrew’s Road and a further 174 spread across smaller sites.

Concerned councillors from Newland, Guarlford and Madresfield parish councils say the meeting is the last chance to make a stand against the plans – as approval would have the same effect as granting outline planning permission for the sites.

The SWDP has provoked heated debate at two previous meetings and the plan was only cleared for an initial public consultation after a deciding chairman’s vote.

Michael Huskinson, chairman of Guarlford Parish Council, has called for MHDC members with concerns to make them known.

“That meeting is now the key battleground. We have to pin our hopes on those councillors having the courage in their convictions to stand up and not be pressured into pushing this through at any cost.,” he said.

“I have no confidence that the public consultations have been anything more than going through the motions. It is shameful that this is being pursued with a blind disregard not just to a potential electorate but also the consequences for a very beautiful part of the country.”

Coun Huskinson and colleagues feel only “token attention” has been paid to Malvern’s location in a geopark and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and that pursuing such a large development without infrastructure first being in place would cause chaos.

They also feel it is “unrealistic”

to hinge such major plans on projection of housing need stretching almost two decades ahead.

Paul Tuthill, chairman of Malvern Hills District Council, said there would be every opportunity for “robust debate”

at the meeting.

He added that recommendations from a cross-party policy group examining the SWDP would also need consideration and debate before a decision is made.

District council leader David Hughes said all responses from the public consultation were being evaluated and considered.