“DON’T Pillage Overton Village” – that’s the message from residents opposed to plans for up to 300 new homes on a much-loved piece of land.

Campaigners were expected to raise concerns on Wednesday to representatives from Dandara – the developer looking to build homes on a part of the village known as Great North Field. Dandara wrote to villagers revealing the blueprint and informing them of the public exhibition, held on Wednesday night at Overton Primary School.

But parish councillor Councillor Peter Baker said the protest group would go armed with a petition against the plans.

He said: “Myself and 80 other people are members of the Don’t Pillage Overton Village campaign group.

“We are opposed to the loss of greenfield space for housing development in the village. We have had a speculative application from Dandara, who are acting on behalf of the landowners.

“Because Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council don’t have a five-year housing supply in hand, speculative developments can be put forward without reference to local democracy.”

He added: “We feel that the beauty of living in Overton, and the reason people pay extra to live here, will be taken away. We pay this extra money to live in a pleasant village. We will lose our much-loved greenfields.”

Members of Don’t Pillage Overton Village were planning to attend the exhibition on the night at 7.15pm to talk with representatives from Dandara.

Overton Parish Council is also opposed to the plans, and has accused the developers of “an unashamed attempt to bypass local democracy”.

In September this year, more than 70 people packed the village hall to discuss the possible development.