More than 50 residents turned out to vent their frustrations about a controversial housing development.

Castle Point Council arranged the meeting to stem the rising discontent about the delays plaguing a 310-home Chase development, earmarked for land off Kiln Road, Thundersley.

The application was approved in October 2005, but the council placed strict conditions for developers Jetbury Investment to meet before any final decision by the Government Office for the South East of England.

However, Cedar Hall ward councillor Peter Burch told the meeting no update on the developer's progress had been heard of since December 2005.

Mr Burch said: "Jetbury have not come back with an indication of its plans so at the moment the planning application is in abeyance.

"Some time in the future the decision is going to have to be made.

"At the moment we are just getting stonewalled."

Boyce ward councillor Norman Smith added: "It surprises me how keen they were to progress, and now nothing."

Both councillors said they believed the plans would still go ahead within the five-year time limit placed on Jetbury and they intended to lobby the firm to make the proposals more acceptable for residents.

No one from Jetbury was available for comment.