FEARS over residents' quality of life and the "countryside's obliteration" have caused many Moreton residents to sign a petition to stop the town's expansion.

Cotswold District Council's local plan for the town has earmarked 1,500 homes over the next 17 years for Moreton.

However, residents claim the council's plans for a 'garden village' could see more than 10,000 homes be built in Moreton instead. 

According to the GOV.UK website, a garden village development has between 1,500 and 10,000 homes, but Moreton currently only has 2,500.

The council still needs to submit a planning application and aims to work with residents to refine its proposal before submitting it.

Cotswold Journal: Darren Curry said the council's plan is smoke and mirrorsDarren Curry said the council's plan is smoke and mirrors (Image: Darren Curry)Darren Curry, a Moreton resident who set up the petition, said: "I think every aspect of residents' quality of life in Moreton will be affected from congestion to sewage. 

"The town will be completely overwhelmed as it will affect GPs and congestion - just name it, and it will be affected.

"There is no mention of infrastructure apart from making a route for a bypass, which will come with more houses, or the need for a secondary school, which will come with more houses.

"Whatever infrastructure they build, there will be more houses."

He said residents understand that development is needed but not to the scale that may be suggested. 

Malcolm Berry, chairman of Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council, said: "The council is currently considering its response to the plans, but members did feel that due to the response at the consultation on March 6, the council will be hosting a public meeting later this month."

The date of the meeting will be March 25. 

The petition can be found here.