CAMPAIGNERS want a judicial review to stop Rochford District Council build 2,785 homes in the next 15 years.

The call comes from a meeting of the Rayleigh Action Group meeting where more than 500 people turned out to show their displeasure at the plans.

The group would now need to raise £30,000 in less then a month to fight the housing plan, which were officially adopted by the council two weeks ago.

Chairman of the group, Linda Kendall, is a long-time campaigner against the plans, has appealed for help to raise the cash and fight the plans.

She said: “We have to submit for a review before April 8 and we are appealing for people to come and help us.

“I have been told a review would cost around £30,000 and we also need help on the official reports.”

Campaigners argue the public were not adequately consulted in the development of the plans, and that new homes will lead to congestion and an increased risk of flooding.

Echo:

Jim Cripps, Linda Kendall, Chairman of RAG, John Smith OBE and Peter Scott

Chris Black, Liberal Democrat district councillor for Downhall and Rawreth, voted against the plans and attended the meeting at the Mill Hall in Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh.

Residents were, in part, notified of the plans by the Rochford District Matters free quarterly newspaper, but Mr Black argued that was not enough.

He said: “I am concerned about Rayleigh and I know a lot of my residents are very angry.

“Very few people knew about the plans through the council’s efforts. Many people do not even open that newspaper.

“While the allocations document was being produced there was not one public meeting.”

Exhibits of the plans can be seen in libraries across the district.

The developers, Countryside, have published plans for 475 new homes to the west of Rayleigh at westofrayleigh.co.uk