Green belt campaigners have launched a fund to bring in top lawyers to fight proposals to build on large areas of farming land.

Members of Save Macclesfield Green Belt (SMGB) have set up the appeal online to raise at least £5,000 to fight proposals in Cheshire East Council’s Local Plan which earmark green belt in south-west Macclesfield for development. The Local Plan is being drawn up to set out wh-at housing and infrastructure can be built in the borough until 2030. A government planning inspector will examine the latest draft at public hearings in September.

SMGB has been fighting proposals to build on the green belt since the earliest drafts of the Local Plan and stepped up their campaign after the land in south-west Macclesfield was added earlier this year. The land has been termed safeguarded land which means it would be built on after 2030.

The group launched the online fund after the council earmarked some of the safeguarded land – between Pexhill Road and Gawsworth Road – for immediate development instead.

They want to pay for a specialist barrister to argue their case when the planning inspector holds his public examination hearings.

Tim Whiteley, from the group, said: “We are trying to save the green belt from greedy developers and a council which just will not listen to the views of its residents.

“There were 11,500 objections to the removal of green belt in south west Macclesfield and not only has the council ignored these but land between Pexhill Road and Gawsworth Road is now being considered for immediate development.

“The planning inspector’s hearings are the only time he can be addressed face to face before making his decision and the plan will be adopted, so this is the last chance to get anything changed.

“If you value the beautiful green belt that surrounds this part of Macclesfield, Henbury and Gawsworth, if you walk in the fields or just enjoy the fresh air, if you don’t want to be living next to a building site, you can help by making a contribution.”

The Local Plan states that between 2010 and 2030, 4,250 houses need to be built in Macclesfield. It earmarks other land for development including the King’s School Fence Avenue site and Gaw End Lane. Go to gofundme.com/2hcegq4 to donate to the fund.