Holding a demonstration in these Covid-19 ‘socially distancing’ days is not easy or acceptable. So Chilcompton has come up with an innovative way of making the point, whilst sticking to the rules of keeping households apart.

On Sunday, dozens of villagers left their homes to stand outside their houses with placards and banners to act as a social distancing protest against the over-development of Chilcompton.

In addition, scores of posters have appeared in the front windows of houses throughout the village with the familiar red ‘STOP’ sign indicating the wishes of residents.

With five major housing developments being pushed through, the villagers of Chilcompton are saying ‘Enough is Enough’. Residents have formed a new organisation called Chilcompton Against Rural Over-development (CARO) and are determined to be heard through any kind of social-distancing activity.

Every house in the village was leafleted to raise awareness about how these developments, totalling seventy seven new houses, will affect the appearance and sustainability of the community.

Residents were asked to come out of their homes at 3 p.m. on Sunday, take pictures of themselves and their neighbours, then send them to [email protected]

Spokesman Richard Morgan said: “It was very pleasing to see how many people came out to support us and it is even more gratifying to see how many posters have been put up. They are literally everywhere and it shows both the strength of feeling and the universality of support.”

The proposed housing developments are at White Hayes (The Street), Somer Lea, The Grange (Parsonage Lane), Sestri paddock (Broadway) and Abbey Road/ Rock Road (Downside, prime agricultural land).