Campaigners fighting to stop two housing plans being built on ancient land in Sandbach are hoping TV's 'Time Team' can conduct a search for ancient remains after scorching weather exposed a Roman road.

Wain Estates won an appeal earlier this year allowing them to build up to 160 homes, a 70-bed care home, and a community building off Crewe Road, following a public inquiry.

Local residents and campaigners have expressed anger over the decision, which overrides Cheshire East Council's initial refusal and which they say threatens local features, including an ancient Roman road.

And another group of residents fighting hybrid application by The Muller Property Group for the second phase of its Sandbach South Masterplan and permission for up to 452 new homes also want archaeologists to conduct a dig on the land.

Campaigners are hoping excavations can take place after recent scorching temperatures exposed a Roman road going across the site.

Terina Forster, whose family home in Park Lane overlooks the Wain Estates site says she's worried part of Sandbach's rich heritage will be lost for ever.

She said: "We have fought long and hard against this plan but what we're concerned about now is that important historical items will be buried under Tarmac if the development goes ahead.

"The Roman road, Margary 70a, is so evident following this very hot summer we're having. The land is scorched and the road is so visible."

Residents fighting another plan by The Muller Property Group for the second phase of its Sandbach South Masterplan and permission for up to 452 new homes also share the same fears.

The Muller Property Group has submitted plans here for 452 homes and a new spine road on land south of Houndings Lane at Sandbach.

The 32-hectare site is currently in agricultural use and is identified by Cheshire East as open countryside and an ecological network.

Local resident, Graham Warner, has written to the British archaeological television series Time Team asking them if they will do a dig and feature the Roman road on the programme.

He said: "A section of Roman Road (Margary 70a) crosses the field directly to the rear of our property. Beyond its Roman connections, local research suggests this field, historically named 'Houndings', may also be the site of an early settlement derived from the Old Norse/Scandinavian Hund (meaning 'hound').

"Recent detectorist finds by the Cheshire East Detecting Club on the site support the presence of historic activity, and the road layout exhibits intriguing features—including a sharp bend that is unusually un-Roman and warrants further investigation.

"If this site is built over, its history could be lost forever. If you would be interested in looking into this or discussing the site's historical value, I would be very happy to talk with you."

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