RESIDENTS across north Essex have had their say after a consultation on modification to a section of the controversial local plan has now closed.

According to Braintree Council, more than 400 comments were submitted as part of the most recent local plan consultation.

The consultation was held on modifications to section one of the local plan and gave residents their say on the planning inspector's proposed changes to the joint parts of the local plans for Braintree, Colchester and Tendring.

The planning inspector recommended some modification to the proposals before he could find the section 1 local plan sound.

This came following his public inspection of the council's joint plans which centre around three garden communities in north Essex.

The planning inspector's modifications included the removal of two of the three proposed garden communities and a number of other changes to decrease the potential impact on local wildlife, manage any flood risk and allocate land in the garden community to to allow expansion of the University of Essex.

The proposed changes also stated planning consent and funding approval for the A120/A133 road link and rapid transit system should be secured before planning approval is granted for any garden community developments.

The consultation ran from Thursday 27 August until October 9 with a total of 137 people submitting 403 comments.

Braintree Council say responses have been processed and are now in the hands of the planning inspector.

The Braintree, Colchester and Tendring councils now await further orders from the planning inpector as to how the joint part of the local plan can move forward.

Cabinet Member for Planning at Braintree Council, councillor Gabrielle Spray said: “We are glad to have so many comments to this latest consultation.

"We now await the Planning Inspector’s considerations.”

Portfolio Holder for Culture & Performance and Deputy Leader of Colchester Borough Council, Councillor Julie Young added: “The comments have been fed back to the Planning Inspector and we eagerly anticipate the next stage of the Local Plan process.”

Councillor Neil Stock OBE, Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning at Tendring District Council, said: “It is an important part of the Local Plan process that the modifications are consulted upon, and we look forward to hearing from the Planning Inspector soon.”

To view the comments made during the consultation, visit braintree.gov.uk/NEAMMS1.