HUNDREDS of protestors are expected to don their wellies in support of saving Birds Marsh in Chippenham from the threat of housing development.

A Wellie Walk has been organised on May 17 by the Friends of Birds Marsh action group in a bid to show the wider community what they could potentially lose if the land is sold for development.

Last year a consortium of developers approached the former North Wiltshire District Council to see what surveys and tests they would need to carry out on Birds Marsh before they submitted plans for housing there.

Chippenham town councillor Elizabeth Kennedy has been involved with the action group against the development since it was formed.

She said: “The Wellie Walk is just a way of getting people from Chippenham out there to see what a lovely, precious place this is.

“We already know that around 50 families are planning on coming with us and that is such a great starting place.

“It will also hopefully mean that more people want to join our fight against the land being sold and used for housing.

“There is always the possibility that there could be some development on the site but we will do everything we can to object to that.

“It is particularly under threat due to the government saying that Chippenham has to have 5,500 new homes, that added with Asda trying to come into the town means that this ancient woodland and surrounding fields are vulnerable to development.

“It is such a lovely area and one that everyone in the town should want to keep.”

Earlier this year a petition was handed to the former district council leader Dick Tonge containing 2,000 signatures of people who are against any proposed development on the site.

Protestors must now wait until the consortium of developers formally approach the new Wiltshire Council with their intention to develop the site before they can do anymore.

The Wellie Walk will start at 10am and families should meet at the King Alfred pub on Malmesbury Road.

There will be competition sheets for children to complete as they walk around and dogs are welcome.