A campaign group formed to combat overdevelopment in Baldock has had its online petition signed by more than 1,300 people.

As part of North Herts District Council’s Local Plan, the authority is expected to build about 12,100 homes in the area by 2031 – and 45 per cent of those could be in Baldock.

A meeting was held in the town just over two weeks ago to discuss potential plans, and since then the profile of campaign group Save Rural Baldock – formed in March of last year – has risen significantly.

The group, which is against overdevelopment of the area, has more than 700 likes on Facebook and its petition has now passed a thousand signatures.

Save Rural Baldock is calling for townsfolk to make their feelings known before the district council put forward a draft version of the Local Plan at a full council meeting on November 27. Once agreed, housing developers will be able to submit planning applications.

Potential sites include a proposal for 3,500 homes on land north of Baldock and a plan for 45 homes on land east of Clothall Common.

Group member Stephen Proops said: “This campaign is for all residents of Baldock and surrounding communities that will be affected by the plan. It is important that we ensure that the councillors, who will vote on November 27, are as clear as they can be on what the views of local residents are.

“This week our Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, has expressed concern over the ease with which councils are sacrificing Green Belt land in order to meet housing targets and he has announced new guidelines to help to preserve the Green Belt.

“Petitions, particularly with specific comments alongside the signature, and letters and emails written by individual residents are critical evidence of the views of the public that they represent. We really do need more emails to be sent.”

Visit www.saveruralbaldock.co.uk to get involved.