A new group has been set up to address the levels of house building in the areas around Coalville - with a focus on Hugglescote, Donington-Le-Heath and Ellistown.

Community Action for Rural Enhancement - CARE - intends to challenge North West Leicestershire District Council on planning issues and other associated community concerns, adding that the new developments in the area are reaching saturation point.

CARE has made it clear it does not plan to object to every development and accepts that the 3,000 home housing in Grange Road has been given the go-ahead for some time.

But it will check for new housing estates and whether the area needs them - and if the local infrastructure, such as schools and health centres, can handle such growth.

CARE is also aware that those areas south of Coalville are in danger of being merged into one - and losing its local identity.

The group was set up only a matter of weeks ago, and organiser Steve Rice says it already has 150 members, but more people are needed if it is to have any long-term effect.

Steve told Coalville Nub News: "It's a very fresh group, only formulated in the last two or three weeks, we're a very active group and very determined.

"There've been a couple more groups looking to build even more houses in this over-developed area.

"Some people were saying it was wrong, and a small group of us took it upon ourselves to say 'enough is enough'.

"This whole area is saturated with houses, the road structure's not good enough, the educational system's n not good enough, the health centre in Hugglescote's not big enough - you can barely get into the car park - and there are a whole host of reasons why we formed this group.

"But we won't say no to everything, we recognise things change and there is a need for some housing.

"The idea is to challenge the local council planning authority who seem to want to sign off any developer that wants to build in the area.

"It's got out of hand, but we need thousands of residents to get up and challenge, not just a handful. Our plan is to get a large body of people to put this council under pressure.

"As for the planned, Donington Le Heath development, we think there's good reason to block it.

"The possible merging together of these individual communities is called coalescence and it's beginning to happen."

CARE has been displaying posters around the area stating its aims and inviting people to join.

The name was chosen as it was felt it covers not only the campaign to prevent any further building, but also enables the group to look at other issues as and when they arise.

Steve added: "I know the council is under Government instruction to do things, but I have some figures that show more homes are being built than we need.

"Why is the question and we want to attend council meetings on a regular basis until we get answers.

"A huge number of people are saying this is too much."

If you would like to get involved with CARE, email: [email protected] or contact Steve on 07713 47813.

The group plan to email regular bulletins about the progress of the group to people who show an interest.