RESIDENTS living behind Ulverston hospital, where a 22-home development is planned, are campaigning to get the scheme rejected.

On Monday's meeting of Ulverston Town Council, five residents from The Gill and Union Lane spoke out about their objections to the plans submitted to South Lakeland District Council by the Merewood Group, based in Kendal.

The objectors said the development was "too intensive," and that they were concerned about the increase of traffic because of the narrowness of Union Lane.

The Natland-based company has submitted plans for a mix of 13 detached four-bedroom homes, two three-bedroomed semi detached and six two-bed flats.

The access route to the new estate would be from Union Lane.

The site has been allocated for housing in SLDC's Local Plan since 1996 but this is the first development application.

One resident who strongly opposes the plans, Sarah Holmes, of Gill Banks, which backs on to Union Lane, said: "We feel that the development is far too intensive and to use Union Lane as the only access point is not sufficient.

"At the moment there are enough cars using the road but if the houses are built it is going to mean at least an extra 22 cars and even up to 40 as some families have more than one car.

"The road is also awash with water when it is raining and on the plans for these new houses it states that they plan to use the current drainage system to take away the water, but it is already not coping."

Another resident, Margaret Hook, of Union Lane, said: "I bought my little cottage as it was on a lane and it was quiet, but this will change if the new houses are built.

"It is only a small lane and if building does go ahead it will mean big lorries and JCB's carrying breeze blocks and things like that down the street.

We are also concerned that with them rattling down the street, what damage will it do to our houses?"

Coun Colin Hodgson said he objected to the planning application because of the access problem it would cause.

"On Union Lane you can't even get two cars past each other so there is already enough problems.

I don't like the plans as they are too intensive but I object to it purely on access grounds," he said.

Coun Phil Lister agreed with Coun Hodgson's concerns and added that the development would not ease the housing problem in the town.

"These houses would not benefit the kind of people looking for housing in the town, as from the plans they look as though they would be too expensive and there isn't a need for this kind of housing in Ulverston."

Managing director of the Merewood Group, Gary Middlebrook, said: "The advice from my team is that there are not any technical problems but if some do crawl out of the woodwork then they will be resolved."

The plans are likely to be discussed by the council's planning committee on April 30.