MORE Than 2,700 people have signed a petition against plans for a traveller site near their homes.

An application has been made to Rochford District Council to allow caravans and horses on to the land next to Lords Golf and Country Club, in Hullbridge Road.

The proposal asks the council to allow “the stationing of caravans for residential purposes and keeping horses, together with the formation of a utility room”.

The site would be half the size of a football pitch and has prompted concerns from residents about the development of a traveller site.

Hullbridge Residents Association (HRA) started the petition and has a total of 2759 signatures.

Members said the reasons for being against the application are because it is greenbelt land, it would have a detrimental effect on the environment, landscape and services to the surrounding area, affecting the economic life of the community.

They state it will negatively affect the congestion presently caused by traffic movement through Hullbridge and affect traffic in Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh and Watery Lane.

In a statement, the group said: “Hullbridge is suffering major disruption from traffic using it as a rat run, adding to the present 1400 vehicles per hour, for the next 12 years, with building in Rochford expected to exceed 4785 homes.

“We want you to remove this threat to the safety and wellbeing of our peaceful village.”

Rayleigh Town Council has objected to the site, due to the proposal being on metropolitan green belt land.

Brian Carleton, Chairman of Hullbridge Residents Association, said: “The Hullbridge Residents Association was inundated with requests to raise this petition against the travellers site.

The planning department at Rochford District Council are unsure of when a decision will be made on this application.