“DEVASTATED” campaigners say they will be forced to leave their homes after plans for 662 new homes in Rochford were agreed.

Members of the Rochford Supporters say that the town is already regularly gridlocked, and fear decades of disruption.

And they now hope to raise cash to take their case against Bloor Homes to the High Court.

Spokesman Christine Austin said: “We are all devastated and lots of us do not want to live here any more nor put up with this rubbish for nine years.

“I want to raise the money to take it to the High Court and try to overturn this. We feel our case was ignored but we put up a good fight and had great evidence against these plans.

“Roads cannot cope as it is, as it’s often gridlock with people missing doctors appointments and the like. How they can ignore this is crazy.”

The plans by Bloor Homes were originally rejected by Rochford Council, only for the company to appeal and the scheme to be given the green light following a public inquiry earlier this year.

Sharon Taylor-Eve spoke at the hearing and also feels that residents were not properly considered.

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The 59-year-old fears the disruption for decades during and after the building.

She said: “I went to every day of the hearing and was shocked at the positive spin used by the developer and their lawyers.

“It is just devastating to hear it’s now going ahead like this and we will suffer for around 10 years of the build and long after too.

“We all know the impact it’s going to have and I doubt these homes are for Rochford people”

She added: “We just feel like it all fell on deaf ears. I didn’t want to stand up and speak but I felt I had to do it to get my point across.”

DEVELOPERS have stressed the benefits of the new homes being built in Rochford, saying an extra £9 million will be spent on education, NHS services and roads. Bosses at Bloor Homes sought to play down concerns about gridlocked roads and over-subscribed doctors.

Spokesman Robert Eburne said: “Alongside the much-needed market homes and affordable homes, which the council accepted were needed to address its acute housing needs, we are committed to delivering a £9 million package of benefits including new school places, money for the NHS, public transport improvements, youth facilities, and a raft of contributions to highway works.

“This is certainly a scheme which delivers necessary development together with a full range of infrastructure.” He added: “The planning inspector confirmed that the benefits of the development on this allocated development site quite clearly outweigh adverse impacts.”