A “HORRIFIED” Honeybourne resident has expressed concern that the site of an ancient sheep auction in the village could be developed with 48 homes.

Carole Graves, who lives opposite the site, is opposing Sharba Homes’ plan to develop the land off Station Road because she feels it would destroy part of the village’s history and heritage.

The site has been used as the location of a sheep auction for generations, it forms part of the village’s green space and currently separates two distinct village districts.

Carole said: “We were quite horrified when we discovered Sharba’s plans. Locals remember sheep being brought down from the hills and into the field, it has been a part of the community for many, many years.

“The field is part of the history of Honeybourne and divides the two villages of Cow Honeybourne and Church Honeybourne. If they build the homes these will just coalesce together.

“This would be destructive to Honeybourne and the changes would be irreversible. We don’t want this part of our history to go.”

The sheep auction is still held in the field on the first Wednesday of every August, but the landowner Edward Righton revealed it had been in decline for a number of years.

He said: “After the 2009 sale I was informed that it was uneconomic. I agreed to allow it on a year by year basis but made it clear that as the site was on the edge of the village I would try for planning permission when the opportunity arose.

”Sadly, it is no longer economically feasible to put money into a one day sale with such a small turnover, but I am happy to help the vendors find a new site and provide them with my existing stock of hurdles.”

Sharba Homes director Phil James claimed that following public consultation in Honeybourne on October 25 that “the vast majority accepted the need for new housing generally and noted the sheep field as the preferred, most logical location”.

He added: “In addition to the objectors we have met, there were approximately 3:1 in support of our proposals.”

Fellow Honeybourne resident Paul Nevin, from Dudley Road, Honeybourne, is one of those in favour.

He said: “We need social housing in the village and for that reason I support this application. I also welcome the developer’s offer to install a safe crossing point for children in Station Road.

“This is a busy road which is regularly used by heavy goods vehicles and this will create a traffic calming measure.

“I don’t think we will miss this one field, but we might miss the sheep sale as an aspect of village life. However, the landowner himself has said the sale is unlikely to continue regardless of any development.”