Campaigners against plans for a large-scale housing development on a field in Waunfawr have applied for Village Green status in a bid to stop the work.

But the campaigners have said they are concerned that Ceredigion council - who are partners in the development - will be making the decision.

The plan from the council, in conjunction with Wales and West Housing, to build a total of 77 homes on the field known locally as Erw Goch Field, received dozens of objections when a planning application was submitted earlier this year.

Now villagers of Waunfawr and Llanbadarn are hoping to achieve Village Green Status to “protect the open space for future generations”.

However, concern has been raised that there would be “a significant conflict of interest” after Ceredigion County Council confirmed that it will be the body deciding upon the outcome of the Village Green Status application.

But the council said steps had been taken to ensure “separation of roles”.

Campaigner Elin Mabbutt told the Cambrian News: “We are pleased that it’s being considered, however we’re very concerned that it’s being considered by Ceredigion council.

"It’s apparent that the council is the landowner that has agreed, in principle, to sell the land to developers; is a co-applicant in the planning application on the land; is the planning authority considering this planning application; as well as now being the registering authority deciding whether the village green should be formally recognised or not.”

Ceredigion council, which has opened a consultation into the application for village green status for the site, told the Cambrian News: “Ceredigion County Council has considered its position regarding any potential conflicts of interests, and ensured that appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure separation of roles.

“The local authority is in contact with the applicant to gather further information on the location, and as a registration authority, a statutory process will be followed.”

The application says the field has been used by residents for recreation for more than 20 years, and therefore qualifies for protected village green status.

The application can be viewed via the consultations page of the council website until 11 August.

While objectors say there are “grave concerns” over the proposed homes, in planning documents, Wales and West Housing said the development will provide a “range of affordable and open market housing tenures” as well as provide a new learning disability facility which would offer “long-term benefits to repatriate a number of out-of-county placements, whilst at the same time delivering significant overall cost savings” to the council.

Llanbadarn county councillor for Padarn ward, Gareth Davies, has also raised objections to the plans, calling the site “unsuitable” due to drainage and traffic issues.

David Kirby, of the Greener Aberystwyth Group, said “the development would be another loss of a significant green space”.