A plan to build more than 100 houses on the outskirts of Ottery was slammed by town councillors.

If the plan went ahead it would put extra strain on health, education and other services in Ottery, and was roundly criticised at a meeting on Monday.

A sizeable proportion of the land for the 120-home scheme is in the Ottery St Mary parish, which was labelled as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘outrageous’ by those living nearby.

The majority of the land is part of Feniton, and more than 30 residents of the village crammed into the council chamber in Ottery on Monday night.

They were there to urge councillors to show solidarity with them and not support the request for outlining planning permission at land west of Ottery Road by Strategic Land Partnerships.

And that was exactly what they did, Roger Giles, who is also the Devon County Council member for Feniton, said there were ‘substantial planning reasons for refusal’, and moved to recommend the council did not support the plan.

Between 30 and 40 of the homes built would be in Ottery’s parish, but residents of all 120 homes would use services such as the already overstretched Coleridge Medical Centre.

Earlier in the meeting Martyn Smith, Chairman of Feniton Parish Council, said his village had come out in mass opposition to plans.

Nick Spence, also from the parish council, said “The new draft of the LDF has a recommendation of five per cent housing growth for Feniton, around 35, which seems acceptable, so 120 in this one plan is outrageous.”

A spokesman from the action group ‘Fight for Feniton’s Future’ said the village was in for a long fight with plans for up to 750 homes to be submitted in and around the village, and encouraged people to object.

Ottery Mayor Glyn Dobson reiterated the concerns raised, including building outside the village boundary line, going against the Feniton village plan and making flooding problems worse, seconding the proposal to not support the plan.

The council voted unanimously for the motion, to cheers from the Feniton residents in the chamber.

The final decision rests with East Devon District Council.