THE community of Wychwood Village is mobilising for a ‘very big fight’ after developers abruptly closed the local golf course and announced 900 houses would be built on fairways and greens.

Hunderds of people have signed a petition against a proposed new village comprising 900 houses on the site of Gorstyhill Golf Club near Weston.

Plans by Haddon Property Development Ltd have emerged illustrating the course making way for hundreds of houses, retail units, shops, offices a school and a pub.

People in the surrounding Wychwood Village and Wychwood Park areas have formed the Wychwood Village CW2 Community Group to oppose the plans.

Village resident, Andy Bailey, is the chairman of the group, and also a former member of the golf club.

He said the community was steel reeling from the abrupt closure and massive development plans.

“It has come as a shock for everyone. Nobody was expecting it. Everybody’s very disappointed. A lot of members were very attached to the club,” said Mr Bailey.

“Nothing whatsoever was said beforehand. We just got a letter through the post stating there was going to be a public consultation.

“They’ve boarded up the club house and put bollards on the driveway to stop people getting on.”

Mr Bailey added that people in Wychwood had bought their homes with regard to stipulations in prior planning permission that stated no more than 725 houses would be created in the area.

“It’s supposed to have been, and was developed as, a village environment. To get a proposal that would double the size of the current development has come very much as a shock,” he said.

Mr Bailey warned developers that the community ‘would not be resting on their laurels’ in mounting and opposition to the proposals.

Campaigner and Wychwood Village resident, Alison Tipping, added: “We’re not going to lie down and let this happen. The developers will have a very big fight on their hands if they submit planning permission for this.”

At the time of going to press, no-one from Haddon Property Development Ltd had responded to the Guardian’s requests to talk about the golf club proposals.

Gorstyhill Golf Club is the latest target of a slew of housing plans across Crewe that have been aired before Cheshire East have formulated their Local Plan – which aims to protect countryside from unwanted development.

Muller Property Group have also unveiled plans to build 1,500 new houses in Wistaston, while Gladman are proposing a further 330 houses in the village.

Readers can visit wychwoodvillage.wordpress.com to add their names to the 634 people have so far signed a petition against the Gorstyhill Golf Club homes.