CONTROVERSIAL plans to build hundreds of chalets in Dovercourt have been condemned by dozens of residents.

Harwich’s Guildhall was packed with residents and councillors during a Tendring Council planning committee meeting on Tuesday evening.

Almost 40 residents attended.

The outline plans for land near the Don Thomson Care Home, in Low Road, include 200 chalets, a mini market with a pharmacy and post office inside, a family pub and a restaurant.

Onslow Holdings has proposed to develop the 16-hectare site to serve both visitors of the holiday park and the local community.

Pam Morrison, Harwich councillor, said there are already plans to build 300 homes in Low Road near to the proposed chalet park.

She said: “There were many concerns raised by residents. The first was the lack of infrastructure as the firefighters, schools and doctors’ surgeries are already stretched. There is also a lot of concern about the traffic the chalet park would cause, and lots of residents live a few yards from the development.”

Harwich Town Council has written an opposition proposal to Tendring Council strongly objecting to the application on the grounds of inadequate infrastructure serving the area.

The proposal said: “In the opinion of Harwich Town Council no developments of this size should be permitted on the Harwich peninsular until the lack of local infrastructure has been fully addressed.

“The traffic surveys carried out in Low Road indicate it is already a heavily used egress for Harwich and Dovercourt and over 75 per cent of the vehicles using it exceed the designated speed limit.

“Harwich Town Council believes that it would increase the likelihood of serious accidents both to road users and pedestrians if additional pressure was added to this road by a development of this size and further believes that it would be irresponsible and dangerous to remove the traffic calming chicane that the surveys have shown is necessary.”

It added: “Harwich Town Council believes that this development would have an unacceptably negative impact on the lives of existing residents.”

The proposal calls on Tendring Council to liaise with Essex County Council. Onslow Holdings has been contacted for comment.

Tendring Council will have the final say on the plans.