CAMPAIGNERS desperate to protect Salary Brook Valley are urging residents to back a petition to oppose development.

Greenstead residents Chris Hill, 33, and Christopher Lee, 38, have managed to collect more than 600 online signatures in support and will deliver a further 1,000 leaflets to raise awareness of a proposed ‘garden settlement’ on the border of Colchester and Tendring.

It comes as part of Colchester Council’s draft Local Plan, which could eventually see up to 9,000 homes built in the Salary Brook Valley area, to the east of the town.

The pair joined forces in May and are also collaborating with the Colchester East Action Group (CEAG) in the hope that by engaging the community, people will respond to both the petition and the Local Plan consultation.

Mr Hill said: “We’re not opposed to the development in principle, we think there could be some benefits in terms of employment and we need more housing, but the main concern is how it’s going to impinge upon the existing estate.

“From where I live, if you look out towards the east you have rolling fields and just where that meets the estate, there’s the Salary Brook Nature Reserve, which is well used for fishing, or as just a nice retreat.

“From the plans it looks like the immediate area around that will be protected, but what won’t be is everything further up the hill.”

The petition calls for the entire Salary Brook Valley to be a designated country park, and for the development to be pushed “over the brow of the hill”.

It asks to have at least 30 per cent social and affordable housing, and for the necessary infrastructure to be in place before new residents relocate, in light of surface water networks being at full capacity.

He said: “Colchester Council’s reports say there will be high run-off rates and it’s already designated as a zone three flood area by the Environmental Agency.

“If you live near Salary Brook, you’ll have problems with flooding and residents have issues with their house insurance because of it.

“One of things which is also slightly upsetting is Elmstead Market appears to be very well protected. There’s a designated ‘buffer zone’ and the plans emphasise the importance of this, but there doesn’t seem to be any similar consideration from a Colchester point of view.

“There should be an equal sized buffer for the east and west.” To sign the petition, click here.

  • THE deadline to submit your comments on Colchester’s draft Local Plan ends this Friday at 5pm.