FURIOUS campaigners say major proposals for 665 new homes must be scrapped - before it destroys lives and causes gridlocked roads to become impassable.

Campaigning groups say plans by Bloor Homes for the hundreds of properties is not right for the Rochford district and must not go ahead.

Detailed plans for the first phase have now been revealed, which would initially see 223 homes built at the site off Ashingdon Road.

There would also be buildings for a potential medical centre, children’s nursery or other community areas, and include parking for school drop-off near Holt Farm School.

It also includes a play space, an outdoor youth facility and allotments. 

Christine Austin, campaign organiser of Rochford Supporters, said: “We have serious concerns because Ashingdon Road cannot cope with this number of homes, or any more homes at all.

“We often have gridlock and it’s worse in the morning and on Thursdays when we have bin collections, there’s also been issues with fire engines not being able to get through traffic.

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“I don’t think there’s anything they can do to make the road better or even widen it but they want to build these homes and have about 1,300 extra cars each day.

“It will ruin lives as people don’t want homes that are higher than theirs and ruin and block views. This land is fine agriculturally and we’ve got to be self dependant after Brexit, but they are looking to destroy this land.

“The Government is pushing this through, more homes everywhere using the same formula, but it doesn’t work for each area. The Government doesn’t know the area and shouldn’t be forcing homes on us.

“We need infrastructure before homes, we need a new school, doctors surgeries and also investments in drains as we have flooding issues.”

Cheryl Roe, Tory deputy leader of Rochford District Council, said the authority will not tolerate developers not putting something back into the community.

She said: “I feel this is over development. We, as councillors, are damned if we do from residents, but damned if we don’t from the Government.

“I think we as a council and Bloor Homes need to go back to the drawing board and get a plan that’s more appropriate and I know the leader has had meetings with the developer.

“We’re making it clear that whilst we have to have development in the district, as all areas do, we will not entertain developers who do not want to put something back into the district.

“I share the concerns about infrastructure as our roads just cannot cope.”

The plans also came under fire earlier this year from MP Mark Francois.

He previously slammed Bloor Homes, znd cited the proposal as a “classic sign of overdevelopment”.

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The first phase of 233 properties would be a mixture of homes ranging from one bed flats to four bedroom houses, with two three-storey apartment blocks.

The proposals also say there would be a total of 565 additional parking spaces as part of the development.

The planning statement reads: “The development will offer further community benefits including funding towards a range of community benefits as requested by the council to deliver education, health, community facilities and improved public transport links.
“The development will also improve off-site highway features to improve the highway network and investment in improved cycle and pedestrian links to reduce the reliance on the private car. 
“A school-drop-off and pick-up facility is proposed near to the site entrance with safe foot link to the schools on Ashingdon Road for pupils to access the school safely.”