CONTROVERSIAL plans for 130 new homes on the outskirts of Halstead have been slammed by town councillors.

Developers want to build the estate just off the A131 Mount Hill between Halstead Hall and Blamsters Farm care homes, opposite Oak Road.

A recent Gazette poll revealed 93 per cent of those taking part believed overdevelopment is a serious issue in Halstead.

Now the latest development has been struck a blow by Halstead Town Council at a virtual meeting on Monday.

Councillors voted unanimously to object to the development, citing a long list of reasons.

The main argument against the development is that the 130 homes would be situated outside the boundary of the town council in the Greenstead Green and Halstead Rural parish.

As a result, residents in the new development would be using all of Halstead’s facilities such as schools and doctors without paying any tax to the town council.

The safety of the site was also questioned by councillors.

They say the road at Mount Hill is prone to flooding at the junction with Blamsters and more homes would make the situation worse.

They also say the junction is already an accident blackspot.

The plans suggest traffic lights or a roundabout, but critics say that would only add the town’s congestion, especially at peak times.

Other concerns include the size and density of the development, parking, impact on the environment, location and loss of countryside.

Councillor Jackie Pell is vice-chairman of the town council planning committee and chaired the meeting.

She said: “The council discussed the application and we went in to great detail.

“We took into consideration our members’ comments and online comments left by people.

“It was a unanimous decision to reject strongly this application.

“From a highways point of view, it is a no-no.

“Traffic lights would cause congestion which is bad enough already and it’s an accident blackspot.

“It floods there and it was even flooded by Blamster’s Drive this morning.

“This is not Halstead. We just recently had a boundary change and now all of Oak Road is part of the town but the development wouldn’t become part of the town for another five to ten years when we can change the boundary again.

“It’s one step too far.”

Halstead Town Council will lodge its objections with Braintree Council which will make the final decision on the application.