There goes the neighbourhood: Locals rise up against expanding WAG village

Now long-standing residents of a Cheshire village blighted by multi-million pound new arrivals are planning to hit back by taking the unusual step of holding a local referendum.

They want to put a stop to the tactic used by the likes of Wayne Rooney and Andrew Flintoff that has enabled them to build gigantic new houses branded "simply horrific" by many locals.

People living in Alderley Edge - one of Britain's wealthiest villages, and home to the Beckhams when David played for Manchester United - are set to be offered a vote on whether the new buildings are spoiling the area.

Under the Local Government Act of 1972, the parish council can be made to hold a local referendum if ten residents demand one.

The poll is being sought by the Edge Association, which represents well-heeled residents of the village, 14 miles south of Manchester.

They are fed up of what has been dubbed the "Rooney effect" after the England footballer and his fiancee, Coleen McLoughlin, knocked down a five-bedroom house in neighbouring Prestbury to make way for their £4.5million mansion.

Several of his Manchester United team-mates have done the same thing - Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre in Alderley Edge, and former player Roy Keane in nearby Hale - while cricketer Andrew Flintoff wants to bulldoze a property in neighbouring Mottram St Andrew.

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Every cloud has a Silvestre lining: Southern chateau meets gothic pile, Mikael Silvestre's house has been called 'horrific' by residents of Alderley Edge

Children's author Alan Garner, who made the area around Alderley Edge famous with books such as The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, has even put his £1.5million house in a charitable trust to prevent it going the same way after his death.

"What we're concerned about is perfectly good houses being knocked down and redeveloped," said Ian Standen, of the Edge Association. "It's changing the character of the village."

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Fight back: Alderley Edge locals say the onslaught of WAG-style houses is 'spoiling' their village

Association vice-chairman Philip Forshaw added: "We came here for tranquillity and we have had three or four years of constant noise. One development finishes and another one starts."

Members plan to ask Alderley Edge Parish Council to seek permission from the local borough council, based in Macclesfield, to hold the referendum.

Similar polls have been held by other towns and villages in recent years on issues ranging from proposed new health centres to the latest EU treaty.

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Although they are not binding, the activists hope to influence policy at the new unitary council of East Cheshire, which comes into being next year.

Their progress will be monitored closely by residents of neighbouring villages, notably Prestbury, which has been affected more dramatically as it has more of the large, post-war houses coveted by developers.

Norman Moffitt, vice-chairman of Prestbury parish council, said: "We've seen some very nice houses being knocked down and replaced by new ones, some of which are pretty grim and others which are simply horrific.

"There's a lot of disquiet about it."

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Brown house: Footballer Wes Brown's monument to his talents is upsetting locals with the increased traffic and noise but the local planning chief says there is little he can do

Macclesfield council planning chief John Knight said he was well aware that people in the area were concerned, but said there was little his staff could do.

National guidelines allow houses to be knocked down and replaced if they are not listed or in a conservation area, and demand for facilities such as swimming pools and en suite bathrooms in luxury homes means that is happening more and more.

"If these are the sort of homes people want in the 21st century, we can't stand in their way just because some people don't like the look of them," he said.

"But we do insist that replacement dwellings don't have much greater visual impact than existing ones, and we're always open to ideas that will ensure people's views are taken into account."

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Andrew Flintoff and his wife want to bulldoze a property in neighbouring Mottram St Andrew