PLANS for a new block of town centre flats have sparked fears Rayleigh’s infrastructure is at breaking point.

An application has been submitted to Rochford District Council for 41 homes just off the High Street.

The existing buildings behind 12 to 26 Eastwood Road could be demolished to make way for the flats.

It comes a year after plans for 500 homes to the west of Rayleigh were approved.

Richard Lambourne, chairman of the Rayleigh Action Group, believes the latest development, put forward by Histonwood Ltd, could gridlock the town.

He said: “My concern is infrastructure. This part of Rayleigh clearly isn’t capable of sustaining a development of this size without considerable investment.

“Both the primary schools in walking distance are currently oversubscribed so we must hope that resources will be made to accommodate the extra children.”

Rayleigh Town council has formally objected to the plans.

A spokesman said: “We object to this application due to the number of flats, access, parking, air quality, loss of commercial business property near the town centre, increased congestion on the roads and the impact on local schools.”

According to comments submitted on the council’s planning website, residents are concerned about traffic in the High Street and surrounding roads.

One residents, who did not want to be named, said: “Castle Road already struggles with traffic from the current level of development in the area.”

A neighbour added: “This town is getting way too overdeveloped now.

“It took me an hour to get from Oakley Avenue to Rayleigh weir on Wednesday and Thursday. That’s a trip that should take no more than ten minutes.”