ESSEX - with its undeserved white stiletto stereotype - has caught the eye of its well-heeled neighbours who are seeking a divorce with a difference.

East Bergholt, which is just over the Suffolk border, is contemplating a departure from its county roots and becoming part of Colchester, in Essex’s heartland.

Villagers fed up with the threat of hundreds more homes in the village which was artist John Constable’s birthplace say Colchester Council affords better protection from developers than its current planning authority, Babergh Council.

The idea of the move across the border was mooted by a resident at East Bergholt’s annual parish meeting.

Chairman Paul Ireland asked for a show of hands from the 30 strong crowd of which the majority were in support of the move to change its planning authority.

Dr Ireland said: “The argument is they believe Colchester Council is committed to protecting the heritage of the Dedham Vale.”

Dr Ireland said villagers helped to compile a Neighbourhood Plan which sets out their preferences for future development and they had not opposed more housing.

But the type of housing favoured by East Bergholt residents is different to that of developers.

“The feeling is the community wants low cost housing for families.

“The key problem is these developers are coming in and they want to build more four to five bedroom houses because they want to make more profit.”

A total of 230 more homes are proposed for the village with decisions due in the next few weeks.

That’s despite a recent judicial review which rejected the plans for the homes in Moores Lane and Heath Road.

Dr Ireland explained: “Babergh has got a three year land supply which now over rules the Judicial Review.”

The parish council’s next step is to create a working party to discuss the suggestion in greater depth.

A Colchester Council spokesperson said: “At this stage we have not received any correspondence from, or entered into any discussion with, East Bergholt Parish Council concerning these plans.”

Babergh Council was contacted for comment but didn’t respond.

Parishes and districts can be moved from one county to another by acts of Parliament and Boundary Commission reviews .

The latest review will report next year.

The key driver for the boundary changes is to reflect population changes and maintain equal numbers in Parliamentary constituencies.