RESIDENTS feel the vision for new garden communities could work well... but not here.

A public consultation is on-going to showcase ideas for large scale settlements at West Tey, another at the Colchester/Tendring border and a third to the west of Braintree. Now two additional dates have been added.

Some councillors and campaigners said the consultation was premature, however, it went ahead as planned starting in November and due to end on January 22.

So far 30 residents have commented on the online portal.

Ronald Marks said the West Tey community was unattainable.

He said: “The vision would be fine if the garden town principles could be met in this location but this is not possible.

“It is not sustainable and it will become largely another dormitory commuter town for ex-Londoners with insufficient rail transport provision and huge pressures on already stressed health services, with no plan in place for a new hospital, flawed employment opportunities analysis, environmental destruction, all at the expense of attractive countryside and high quality agricultural land.”

Some were more enthusiastic. Martin Meronti supported the Colchester/Tendring garden community.

He added: “This garden city should be isolated area to maintain its own character, the boundaries distinct, otherwise it will become just another urban sprawl.”

Simon Tibbetts said a garden community west of Braintree is not a vision he shared.

He said: “It is already an exceptional place to live, to grow up, to work, to raise a family and retire.

“Placing a garden community there will destroy that.

“The vision has many good ideas for a new town but this area of Essex is not suitable for a new town.”

Colchester Council leader Paul Smith (Lib Dem) believes the authorities having control over what is built is key to the success of the scheme.

Two new consultation dates have been added on January 6 from noon until 2pm at Copford Village Hall and January 11 from 5pm until 9pm at William Loveless Hall in Wivenhoe. Visit braintree-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/negc to comment.