VILLAGERS are calling on their MP to put a stop to a 500-home housing development which would transform Hullbridge into a town.

The Hullbridge Residents Association, supported by the Rayleigh Action Group and the Rochford District Residents group of councillors, has written to Mark Francois asking for him to call in the development between Hullbridge Road and Rawreth Lane.

After canvassing the entire village, the group found 98.5 per cent of its 7,000 residents opposed the development.

Despite Mr Francois, Tory MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, questioning how the scheme will be financed during a heated council meeting, the plans were approved by Rochford's development committee.

Brian Carleton, chairman of the residents association, has since been contacted by parish councils in Suffolk, who successfully called for a judicial review on similar plans.

He has now written to communities minister Mr Francois asking him to step in and lead an appeal.

Mr Carleton said: “I received some emails from parishes in Suffolk who have populations a little bit smaller than Hullbridge. They had read about our plight and said they are having the same problems but had been allowed to have a judicial review.

“Mark Francois made a wonderful speech on our behalf at the development committee meeting and, although his own Conservatives took no notice of his passionate and robust speech, we are hoping he can persuade the housing minister Brandon Lewis to grant us a judicial review.”

He added the group would be looking to challenge the development without members being forced to dip into their own pockets.

Rayleigh Action Group chairman Linda Kendall lost £55,000 on a failed High Court appeal against a similar development in the town

She said: “The people of East Bergholt, just over the border from Essex, just had 144 houses passed by their council but, within a certain amount of time, there’s a possibility that if they’ve not obeyed all the rules, they could call it in.

“Mark Francois has made two very feisty statements to the council that they’re making mistakes and he’s the most senior politician in the district, so his support would be a great help.”