RESIDENTS living near Victoria Road in Stanford le Hope protested against planning application to build 153 houses on a flood risk land on the rear of Victoria Road.
Despite rain, residents met last Saturday together with local politicians to show the planners their will against the development.
Ella Vine, local campaigner and Labour’s candidate in local election for this area, who collected 94 signatures under the petition against the development and who organised the event said: ‘’Today we have shown again to the planners where we stand on this. Residents do not want houses to be built in their backyard because this will increase the flood risk.
"This area is being already frequently flooded and no remedy has been used to counter this – how any plans for building can be even considered? There is a ditch just few meters away from residents’ gardens and when it rains heavily the water flows to their gardens. Rivers of puddles are being spotted in the area to be concreted over. Evidence of heavily flooded car park has been already submitted to the planners.
"It used to be a greenbelt and residents worry about destroying the wildlife. Victoria Road is an old narrow residential road, the parking and speeding problems in there are substantial and the traffic by Manorway will just not cope with the additional frequent movement of at least 300 vehicles.
"These plans are just ill-thought. This is not appropriate land to build on. Residents have clearly voiced their stance on it and I hope that their will will be respected’’.
