A COMMUNTY action group trying to save South Essex from over-development believe the railway network won’t be able to cope with the increased population after thousands more homes are built.

According to figures from Network Rail and the SE Essex Action Group Alliance, known as SEEAGA railway lines will not be able to cope with the vast number of new homes planned for the area with Essex being a ‘commuter county’.

SEEAGA is an association of 13 local groups seeking to protect green belt as well as seeking to protect South East Essex as a whole from over-development.

A minimum of 65,000 to 75,000 homes are proposed for the five boroughs of the ‘Thames Gateway over the next 20 years.

Alasdair Daw, member and researcher at SEEAGA, said: “This is equivalent to 25-30 percent population growth over 20 years..

“South East Essex is a commuter economy, a high proportion of people work in London and our economy is dependent on the high wages local people bring back from the capital.

“However, the railway lines that take these people to work are at capacity, before the proposed developments.”

The group claim Network Rail have estimated that demand on the Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street lines will grow enormously.

The figures, for Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria, estimate a 26 percent increase in demand from 2013 figures to 2023.

For Fenchurch Street to Shoebury is estimated a 36 percent increase in demand from 2013 figures to 2023 is predicted.

Mr Daw continued: “Potential solutions are identified but would cost tens of billions and take decades to deliver.

“Even without large-scale housebuilding, South East Essex is likely to become over-developed. By that we mean that demand for the railways on which our economy depends will far exceed supply and prosperity will be threatened.

“Local Authorities should follow the example of Castle Point and cite green belt and transport constraints as reason to have housing targets lower .

Jim Cripps, a member of Rayleigh Action Group, agrees. He said: “It’s a question of what the statistics say and they say that the railway network won’t be able to cope. The trains are already full up and bringing all these people into the area will inevitably make it worse.

Essex is a busy commuter county already.”