Campaigners have promised to continue to fight against garden community plans, despite winning a big victory with the return of a less than complimentary inspector’s letter.

Stop Erosion of Rural Communities in Rural Essex (Sercle) has praised inspector Roger Clews’ response but said the public need to see a change in attitude from the authorities involved.

A spokesman said: “The comments from the inspector are clearly less than complimentary with regard to the substance and validity of the proposals.

“The councils have been found out and are wriggling on the end of a hook, attempting to put a positive spin on the criticism they have so clearly received.

“Sercle will continue in its endeavours in collaboration with other groups and will be watching very closely how the councils react beyond the self-congratulatory nonsense we have seen so far.”

The council have said they will continue working together to refine the plans, but denied any spin on their response to the inspector’s letter.

A spokesman for the authorities said: “We have made clear the points raised by the inspector, both where he has praised our approach and the areas of further work that are required to make our plan sound.”