RESIDENTS and councillors at Holland-on-Sea fear “the floodgates would open to thousands of new houses being built” if they lose a ten year battle to stop development off Sladbury’s Lane.

They have fought against housing in the area for a decade, even collecting a petition signed by nearly 5,000 residents.

Now, a group of councillors and the Residents Association have pledged a last-ditch battle when the project comes before Tendring District Council, expected next month.

The One Property Group submitted an outline application for 132 homes on the 8.6ha site last September.

Earlier this year, Essex County Council’s highways department told Tendring District Council that the impact of the proposal is “acceptable” subject to certain conditions being met, such as the construction of a roundabout on Sladbury Lane to provide access to the site.

This month, the county council’s Flood and Water management department also said a planned sustainable drainage system was “achievable” in not adding to flooding problems in the area.

“We have fought it off for ten years. Now it’s set for approval by an Essex County Council flood report,” said Holland Independent district councillor Joy Broderick.

“We have been told it will be approved but we will contest it. It’s a huge local issue,” she added.

The Holland-on-Sea councillor is backed by fellow district councillors Colin Whitfield and KT King, newly-elected Essex county councillor Colin Sergeant and the executive committee of the Holland Residents Association.

They believe local roads could not cope with the extra traffic the homes would generate, or that drainage and sewerage would cope, and they say there is insufficient places in local schools or GP surgeries for the new residents.

Mrs Broderick says the landowners of the site have “taken advantage” of Tendring Council not having a new Local Plan, making it easier for developers to gain approval.

She also says both the last Local Plan of 2007 and the 2012 draft Local Plan also opposed including the site for development.

“This development, if approved by Tendring District Council in June, could not only bring 500 new residents and new associated demands to the area but would very likely open the floodgates to thousands of new homes being built on the very same green fields as this initial batch- a population explosion of 6,000-plus,” she said.

Mrs Broderick added that it would be easy to say nothing had changed since the 2007 Local Plan and the 2012 Draft Local Plan, but it had.

“Flooding and the risk of flooding as increased and the existing traffic along Sladbury’s Lane has increased, the road surface has deteriorated, the local surgery, admitted by the Health Service to be inadequate, is unable to attract doctors.

“We could go on but it is glaringly obvious that any suggested development along or off Sladbury’s Lane is just totally inappropriate,” she added.