QUIET community has been rocked by the sudden resignations of three parish councillors in a row over where affordable homes should be built in the village.

The dispute over the choice of preferred sites for affordable homes in Broughton has also led to a rebellion by villagers who were surveyed by the parish council for their views on the location of the development.

But a majority of the 10 councillors ignored residents’ views and voted in favour of two controversial sites –one in School Lane and the other at Coolers Field in Horsebridge Road.

Proposals for Coolers Field would include eight housing association rented properties and 11 homes to sell on the open market.

At Horsebridge Field the mix would be 11 housing association and 10 open market homes.

Villagers’ preferred site for affordable homes was on parish council-owned land next to Broughton Cemetery and residents are also angry that the parish’s plans include homes for sale.

Three councillors, Nigel Ottley, Sarah Hendy and Peter Broome have now resigned their seats over the issue and Tim Jenner has also stood as chairman but remains on the council.

Angry villagers have now formed Affordable Housing for Broughton in bid to overturn the parish council’s decision.

The group’s leader Stephen Pay said: “We urge Broughton Parish Council to reconsider their position because we are dumbfounded by what has happened and also for Test Valley Borough Council to show greater interest in the decision-making process which has gone awry. We are concerned about the division within the village and subsequent ill-feeling caused.”

Affordable Housing for Broughton has sent out letters to villagers accusing the parish council of “completely ignoring” their views and asking residents to write to the parish clerk expressing their concerns about the way the council handled the matter.

Mr Pay added: “The consultation showed that the village wants 17 to 18 houses built over a five-year period. Instead the council chose to pursue two big all-in one-go sites.”

He said that the parish council was elected to represent residents’ views but it had failed on this issue.

“The parish council is there to represent the majority’s views but they were not doing so. It is very sad it has come to this because some of the councillors have done some good work,” added Mr Pay, who has lived in Broughton for 19 years.

He also claimed he parish council had gone against Test Valley Borough Council’s draft local plan which called for development to be kept within the village boundary.

“A group of councillors seem to have used the desire for more affordable homes as a means of developing a large new housing estate on the edge of the village with more executive homes than affordable,” says Affordable Housing for Broughton in a letter to residents.

Dagan James,who was born in the village and now breeds water buffalo at Manor Farm, said more low cost homes are needed for local people not luxury homes.

“Affordable homes are essential, open market homes are of no benefit to the community just developers. Broughton is lacking sustainable affordable housing,” said Dagan.

One villager, who did not want to be named, said that councillors’ contacts details have been removed from the parish council website.

No one from the parish council was available for comment on the resignations.