RESIDENTS told an inspector they face a "disaster" if plans to build 1,200 homes on green-belt land in Edwalton go ahead.

Councillors, campaigners and neighbours raised concerns about traffic, air quality, drainage, wildlife and loss of green belt near Sharphill Wood, during the second day of a public inquiry yesterday.

Denis Adams, of Melton Road, told the inspector, John Gray, that his house was affected "as badly as any house could be" by the development, proposed by David Wilson Homes and Brian Wells.

He said: "I have not had one solitary approach from David Wilson Homes as to how they can mitigate the disaster which is facing me.

"I know I can't buy a view but I'm not going to get a view because that wood is going to disappear (from sight).

"There is no benefit whatsoever for the residents of Edwalton. Three thousand people are going to find that their population has doubled, and all the pressures that will bring.

"The residents of Edwalton have been fighting this for ten years. It has cost them thousands of pounds.

"With apologies to Marks & Spencer, this is not just green belt, this is our green belt."

Guy Roberts, a West Bridgford resident and member of Friends of Sharphill, was also concerned about the loss of green belt.

"I am grateful for the green belt in the way it has existed in the past," he said.

"It is disciplined society that has had an interest to avoid short-term gain for long-term cost.

"I am just afraid people seem more and more ready to scrap green belt and there will be long-term costs."

Coun Karrar Khan, Rushcliffe borough councillor for Musters Ward, said despite proposed improvements to Wheatcroft and Nottingham Knight roundabouts, the real impact would be on more minor roads, such as Musters Road, Melton Road and Valley Road.

He added: "We are concerned this development at Sharphill is being considered as a standalone thing and an isolated issue.

"It should be considered as a comprehensive plan of all the proposed developments in Rushcliffe.

"We think Gamston Gateway can accommodate nearly 5,000 homes. That makes it more sustainable.

"It also makes it particularly attractive because the county council was proposing to build a park-and-ride facility which will ease traffic."

Coun Peter McGowan, of the borough council and Ruddington Parish Council, said the development would cause even more drivers to use Landmere Lane and Flawforth Lane in Ruddington.

Peter Wood, of Gedling, said although Sharphill Wood was outside the development site, building 1,200 houses on the edge of it would disrupt wildlife and birds such as the redwing and mistle thrush, both of which are suffering from declining populations.

Diane Rotherham, a chartered civil engineer, of Compton Acres, said drainage would be a problem.

"There are serious drainage problems in low-lying parts of West Bridgford that can only be exacerbated by adding extra water to the sewers," she said.

"For example, the road at the junction of Rugby Road and Loughborough Road has, in recent years, been seriously damaged by excessive flows in the surface water sewers and has suffered local flooding in several locations."

Karina Wells, of Musters Road, West Bridgford, said the large development didn't make sense in the current economic climate.

She also said the authorities needed to start thinking of more sustainable ways of living.

The inquiry, at West Bridgford Community Hall, is expected to finish next week.

jon.robinson@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk