"IT'S time for the residents of Droitwich to stand up and be counted."

That's the message from campaigners fighting against plans to build hundreds of homes in the Yew Tree Hill area of the town.

Members of Save Our Green Open Spaces (SOGOS) have launched an appeal for donations to aid their battle to stop development to the south of the Spa.

A planning appeal is set to be held on January 28, 2014 after developers lodged an appeal against the decision by Wychavon District Council to reject two applications for 765 homes and a 200 unit care facility.

The plans were put forward by Barberry Droitwich Ltd for 500 homes and a care facility and from Persimmon Homes Ltd for 265 homes - all at land north of Pulley Lane and Newland Lane.

Developers have also moved to resubmitted the exact same planning application to Wychavon District Council in a move they claim offers the council an escape route from the appeal process - and a potential £500,000 bill should the authority lose.

However, campaigners are as determined as ever to fight the appeal and now want financial support from other concerned residents in the town.

The funds are needed to secure the services of expert planning witnesses to challenge the arguments put forward by the developers at the new year appeal.

A spokesman from SOGOS said: "This really is crunch time now. It's time for the residents of Droitwich to stand up and be counted.

"Droitwich already has more than sufficient new housing approved to meet the local plan requirements for the next 17 years, including a large development of 748 houses at Copcut Lane. This is our last chance to save Yew Tree Hill from this application and every single donation will help.

“We need to raise a substantial amount of money to give this our absolute best chance. We have already received some very generous donations, but still have a long way to go before we can be sure we can cover this expense.

"It is time for each of us to ask ourselves what our countryside is worth to us. Every contribution, large or small, is not only helping to fund our best defence of Yew Tree Hill, but is also sending an important message to the planning inspector, developers and the Secretary of State that, in Droitwich, we care about what happens to our town and the countryside around it."

To donate to the fund, contact SOGOS by emailing saveyewtreehill@gmail.com, by calling 07880747036 or 07964676221. To find out more about the group visit saveyewtreehill.org.uk