CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to continue to fight plans for a 662 housing estate as developers are set to appeal the council’s decision to refuse the planning application.

Bloor Homes has lodged the appeal with the Secretary of State after Rochford District Council refused its plans for land off Ashingdon Road, Rochford.

The proposals have been hugely controversial with angry campaigners demanding the plans are scrapped, saying that the town cannot cope with the amount of homes proposed.

They say they will continue to fight the plans and intend on speaking at the appeal which is due to be held in January. An exact date has not been finalised.

Campaigner Christine Austin said: “We expected Bloor to go to appeal and we have a right to fight it. The council has been tremendously supportive and it could be a lot of money to fight this.

“We will be applying to be there represent ourselves and we’re not stopping in our campaign.

“The road is broken and there is no solution. It doesn’t take a genius to see what’s wrong with it. They cannot keep relying on statistics, they need to listen to the eyes and boots on the ground.

“We have a lot of evidence to show the road is at maximum capacity and the impact will be disastrous and even deadly. The road cannot cope so why are they saying it can.

“It’s just a disaster. People will suffer forever more and will not be able to move.”

In June, council officers recommended councillors approve the application.

However the committee overturned the advice from officers and voted to refuse the application.

Robert Eburne, planning director at Bloor Homes Eastern, said: “This is an allocated site and the application was supported by officers based on this.

“Bloor undertook a substantial community and stakeholder dialogue and worked hard to get this approved at the local council level.

“We are always reluctant to appeal any decisions, but because this is an allocated site and Rochford Council need new housing and development to meet its local needs, we considered the appeal unavoidable.”