VILLAGERS turned out in force to have their say on blueprints for thousands of homes on the edge of Colchester.

Tendring Council’s local development framework, setting out where homes will be built in the next 15 years, includes plans for 3,000 properties near Greenstead and 600 near the St John’s estate.

Although the sites are in Tendring, they are closer to Colchester than any of Tendring’s main towns. Tendring Council held an exhibition at Ardleigh village hall.

Christopher Brindle, of Chapel Lane, West Bergholt, said: “There’s already an awful lot of housing development in Colchester. It will make Colchester even less acceptable to live in. They have filled in all of our countryside. “Colchester is massive. There isn’t the industry and jobs for the people who are supposed to live in these houses.”

Many at the viewing were disappointed more details of the plans had not gone on show.

One Ardleigh resident said she had expected to see detailed proposals explaining access to sites, infrastructure and how development would affect existing residents.

Tendring Council leader Neil Stock said all the plans the council had received had gone on show.

He said: “We don’t have all the answers or information.

“Developers are just dipping their toe in the water to see if there’s any appetite for the plans.”