A burst water pipe at one of the last greenfield areas in Oban has shown the site cannot cope with a new housing development, objectors have claimed.
The leafy valley sits between two developments in the densely populated Soroba housing area, just off Lonan Drive.
Local firm TSL Contractors has re-submitted a planning application to build 44 houses there, which has been meet with hundreds of objections.
On Sunday gardens in Lonan Drive suffered major damage after water flooded nto them.
A number of properties suffered further damage as large holes were dug to try to repair the problem.
Oban resident Colin Cooper added: “Were our voices to be ignored and the first shovel cuts into the glen, the disregard for the conditions of Oban’s over subscribed water supply and sewage already displacing into Oban Bay would be severely worsened.
“Our green space, now more than ever, needs to be treated as sacred and fragile if we are to be seen to have any consideration for anything other than ourselves.”
The previous application last year was abandoned after roads officers said the entrance to the site is was too narrow.
This latest application has been met with more than 350 objections on an online petition.
Marri Malloy, chairwoman of Oban Community Council, said: “The traffic situation at Soroba Road is ridiculous. There are some times in the day when you have to avoid using the car.
“This is the second burst pipe at Lonan Drive in two years. Obviously we have got a problem with the pipes.
“During the summer when everyone is using the water, the water pressure is awful.
“The infrastructure can’t cope as it is. What a mess some of the gardens in Lonan Drive were on Sunday.
“We will be discussing this at the community council meeting on Monday night.”
Argyll and Bute Council confirmed a decision would be taken at a future meeting of the planning committee.
A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: “We apologise to any customers who were affected and thank them for their patience and understanding. Scottish Water has been reviewing options for future investment on its water network in the area where the burst occurred. We will inform the local community of our plans as soon as we are in the position to do so and will keep them updated as the work progresses.”
TSL did not respond to a request for comment.
