Outraged residents fear the worst for their village, as plans to expand the boundaries and build more homes are put up for discussion.

After details of Copeland Borough Council’s Local Plan were released, outlining the council’s proposal to stretch the St Bees village border, residents have voiced their concerns, demanding their village remain just that – a small, rural area.

As well as suggesting the village’s expansion, the proposal also considers building 97 homes near Abbotts Court and Abbey Road, as it discusses areas of land that could be developed.

A spokesman for the council explained that is consultation period is currently being run, allowing residents to share their thoughts before November 30.

Speaking on behalf of many others within the village, resident Roxanne Benson raised various issues with the ideas, including loss of wildlife, increased demand on the few amenities, and the overall future of St Bees.

“My personal view is one of disappointment,” she said.

“We have a fragile infrastructure – ongoing and serious traffic problems, no services such as bus [routes] or pharmacy, and the environmental impact on the land and wildlife would be huge.

“Once it’s built on, it’s lost forever.”

Another major fear for residents is the impact more houses will have on the already-excessive traffic that drives through the village, with regular blockages on the narrow roads causing damage to parked cars.

“The question I would ask is, are the homes really needed in this area? It’s a rural farming area, with no amenities.

“Surely housing developments of this scale should be close to amenities and not in a small coastal village.

“Nobody wants any more development in St Bees, we are at full capacity now – build homes in areas where they are needed.”

A council spokesman said: “We are currently running a consultation into the Preferred Options Draft of our Local Plan.

"This is an important document and we are inviting feedback on our proposals until November 30, and we will consider all responses received as we move forward into the next phase."

They added that all relevant documents, including a questionnaire, are available at www.copeland.gov.uk/consultations.