Residents fighting plans a 180 homes plan in open countryside in Sandbach are poised to launch a crowdfunding page after their plea to Sandbach Town Council for a financial contribution was thrown out.

Campaigners asked Sandbach Town Council's last full council meeting to consider a contribution of £2,500 towards producing a legal letter launching a legal challenge against Cheshire East Council for the Bradwall Road development.

But their plea was thrown out by seven votes to six even though one councillor said the move was necessary to ensure "proper scrutiny" of planning applications.

Councillor Sandra Broad expressed her concern about planning applications for Sandbach being "properly scrutinised".

She said: "We're paying for properly scrutiny yet we don;t seem to be getting an awful lot back," she said

A packed protest meeting was held at Sandbach Rugby Club recently and now campaigners are launching a legal challenge.

Campaigners are proposing to fight the plans which were given outline planning application as we revealed here due to a "material change of circumstances".

Steve Buckley, campaign co-ordinator and a member of Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan group said previously: "Despite our best efforts, Cheshire East has now issued the decision notice confirming outline approval for 180 houses off Bradwall Road.

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"We now have six weeks to appeal, so need to raise about £2,500 to start the legal process. Even if it had to go all the way to the High Court, the cost would be less than the cost of a cup of coffee for the population of Sandbach.

"This 180 is just the next step towards 3,000 more houses likely to hit Sandbach unless we resist."