BOATS or trains must be used when transporting thousands of tonnes of earth to raise the land at a 214-home development in Shoebury, campaigners have insisted.

Bellway Homes, the housing developer has permission for 120 “lorry movements” per day, over two-and-a-half years, to deliver earth to Barge Pier Road, Shoebury.

The homes are set to be built on a floodplain, with Bellway set to to construct the properties on four raised platforms - from 3.5 metres to 6.5 metres - to mitigate potential flooding issues.

Bellway say that lorries will not be be delivering earth to the site every day for the full 30 month period. But councillors and campaigners are now calling for the land to be transported either by boat or train, to reduce the impact on traffic, people’s health and homes in the area.

Derek Jarvis, Tory councillor for West Shoebury, said: “I was shocked to hear about the plans to transport it by lorries. It doesn’t have to come by road.

“Land was brought by barge for Wallasea Island, and the River Crouch was used. I also think rail seems a natural solution and there are MOD rail lines that are not in use.

“The whole route is wrong and will be full of pinch points, and it would cause chaos because of how busy all these roads are already.

The proposed route is via the A13 and A1159, to Thorpe Hall Avenue and then turning onto the Thorpe Esplanade, to Shoebury Common Road and turning into New Barge Pier Road.

Peter Lovett, chairman of Shoebury Residents’ Association, said: “We also think there are other methods than using lorries on the roads.

“I think using the Barge Pier is a good idea. It has been done before bring earth from London and used for the Wallasea Island.

“At that time large conveyor belts carried the land from the boats and I think this is the best way to do the new homes.”

Ron Woodley, Independent councillor for Thorpe Ward, has also launched a petition calling for the lorry movements to be blocked due to concerns over “diesel exhaust fumes and the environmental impact around our children’s schools”

A spokesman for Bellway, said: “Bellway will submit its strategy for monitoring the agreed routing for the lorries to carry out this work.”