Opponents of a controversial plan to build 249 houses on the Showfield site north of Whittlesey have arranged a public meeting for next Wednesday.

Applicants Showfield Ltd are appealing Fenland District Council’s decision to reject their plan for the 18.5 hectare site near the Wash.

The meeting, which has been organised by Showfield Action Group, will take place at the Ivy Leaf Social Club in Whittlesey on March 19 at 8pm.

It will be the second time a public meeting has been held about the proposed development - more than 300 people packed the Ivy Leaf Social Club to have their say at a meeting organised by Whittlesey Town Council in October.

At the meeting, many residents said the homes would increase traffic, cause flooding problems and put extra pressure on schools and doctors surgeries.

The B1040 was closed for 65 days in the winter of 2012 because of flooding and roads near the site including Teal and Otago Road are often gridlocked.

A petition launched by the action group has already attracted more than 300 signatures and it is hoped this number will rise to 1,000.

Chairman Ashley Jones said: “We had more than 300 people at our last public meeting and we fully expect a similar turn out this time.

“I don’t anybody would have changed their mind about the development, particularly in the aftermath of the Somerset and Thames floods.

“We believe the site is inappropriate for further development. There is plenty of land to the south of Whittlesey well away from the flood plan which it would be more suitable to build on.”