Protest group, Green Squeeze, held a meeting with the council's planning department to discuss the five proposed access routes - which all cut through green belt land - and the impact the development will have on nearby villagers.

Spring Urban Regeneration bought the 500-acre piece of land at the old Stanton Ironworks site at the beginning of this year and plan to turn it into a village incorporating 4,000 houses, an industrial site, schools, pubs and a community centre.

Green Squeeze member and Dale Abbey Parish councillor, Paul Harvey, said: "We needed to open up the lines of communication with the council because there's been a lot of rumour and hearsay going on which is in danger of clogging up the process.

"The proposed access routes to the site all cross through beautiful countryside and soil an area which is much needed by the people of Erewash as a green space and buffer between Derby and Notts."

Green Squeeze also voiced their concerns about the volume of housing.
Mr Harvey added: "It started at 1,200 houses and it keeps creeping up. Now it's like having another Oakwood smacked on the edge of Stanton village. The impact on the residents will be horrendous.

"We were delighted to find that the council were open to our ideas and concerns. They're also concerned about the countryside, it's in their interest as well that the area is treated with respect."

The action group put together a video as a rallying call and put it on YouTube. The video has sparked protest letters from as far away as California Japan, and Australia.

Mr Harvey said: "People who lived here, some up to 30 years ago, were absolutely outraged at the thought of a road going through the green belt. Most people couldn't even comprehend that someone has even suggested it."

Green Squeeze are determined none of Spring UR's plans will go ahead, and are now looking at making their own alternative suggestions to put forward.

A spokesperson for Spring UR said: "All of the options will seek to remove traffic from Stanton by Dale and Sandiacre, currently identified as a significant problem, however, Spring recognise that there are no easy solutions with each option impacting on different sections of the local community and the need to balance the impact against the wider benefits.

In looking for the most suitable option, the process will need to take into account the effect on local communities to both the west and the east of the site."

Spring UR are fine tuning their plans and will submit a planning application next summer. Their deal will allow former owners Saint-Gobain to remain at the site.