A CAMPAIGN group has been launched to fight plans for thousands of homes on the outskirts of Colchester.

Tendring Council has earmarked the “Colchester fringe” for development in the next 17 years.

Sites under threatened include Plains Farm, Ardleigh, and land between the A120 and the A133, close to Colchester’s Greenstead and Longridge estates.

Longridge residents have set up the Colchester East Community Association to prevent what they described as “unsightly urban sprawl”.

Joe Turner, one of the founders and a Longridge resident of 25 years, said: “Colchester is very big and it's getting bigger.

“We have got a wonderful view across to the university.

It is not like you are in Colchester, it is more like you are in Yorkshire.

“If this development goes ahead you can imagine the number of cars that will generate.

“Tendring will get the houses, but the infrastructure will be down to Colchester.”

The site has been identified by Tendring Council, which is drawing up a Local Plan to set out development across the district until 2030.

It needs to build 12,000 homes.

At least 6,000 homes could be built on the 700 acres of land behind Longridge, between Bromley Road, Colchester, and Essex University.

Mr Turner said the association is non-political, but it agrees with the anti-development arguments being made by Colchester’s Lib Dem councillors.

He hopes its formation will give residents a voice in the event of a planning application and as Colchester and Tendring Councils develop their local plans.

Paul Smith, St John’s ward councillor, said: “Colchester has a local plan, Tendring doesn’t. That’s the first problem.

“Any developer would find it easier to build on the Tendring side of the border than the Colchester side.”

Tendring Council’s local plan was criticised by officers after not having enough identified sites for housing developments.

A new local plan committee was formed and is currently reviewing more sites.

For more information about the association, e-mail ceca.countmein@gmail.com