RESIDENTS fear the village of Boreham could be lost forever, if two new developments are given the go-ahead.

Plans have been submitted to Chelmsford Council for housing developments close to the Lion Inn, in Main Road, and on land, near Plantation Road, which would see up to 350 homes built.

Plans are also in for an Audi showroom and workshop, off Paynes Lane, behind the Premier Inn.

More than 300 people packed into the village hall for a meeting of the Boreham Conservation Society to air their concerns.

Alan Swash, who chairs the group, said the plans, coupled with the nearby Beaulieu developments, which will see 3,600 homes built as well as a business park and a train station, would result in the village of Boreham becoming just an extension of Chelmsford.

He added: “That’s the big fear.

“We were reassured originally that the A12 north east bypass would be the outer rim of Beaulieu, but it has broken through with the business park and new train station.

“People are angry about it. We want to retain that green buffer between us and the city.

People are scared about losing the village.”