HUNDREDS of letters opposing plans for a green belt housing estate have been sent to Castle Point Council.

As well as about 260 letters from residents, objections to Barratt Homes’ plans to build 239 properties in Thundersley have included Essex Police, Castle Point Conservative MP Rebecca Harris and the council’s refuse manager.

Residents have been fighting to protect the site, north of Daws Heath Road, since plans to build on it were first revealed about two years ago.

Neal Warren, secretary of Hands Off Our Greenbelt, the campaign group set up to fight the plans, said: “We are really pleased with the number of objections.

“It shows the level of concern about the plans, not just from local residents, but from further afield.

“We hope the council will take into account this strength of feeling.”

Essex Police raised concerns about lighting and have asked for a formal assessment of the impact of the proposed development on crime levels.

A new road is planned through the estate between Stadium Way and Daws Heath Road.

The refuse department at Castle Point Council has objected the proposed southern entrance is too narrow for dustcarts and some of the properties are down walkways which are further than bin men should carry rubbish under EU law.

Tory Mrs Harris called the application “misguided and unnecessary”.

She wrote: “I have concerns the local transport infrastructure could not cope with the additional traffic that the development would cause.”

The deadline for objections has closed.

Castle Point Council is due to make a decision by September 9.