ANGRY residents have called the approval of 120 homes in an overcrowded village a “disaster”.

Dozens of residents attended a planning meeting on Tuesday night, where plans by David Wilson Homes to build in Hatfield Peverel were ap- proved.

Villagers of Gleneagles Way had gathered in protest to block the development, and last summer 101 people opposed the outline bid to build 145 homes there.

In front of a hall packed with angry residents, councillors approved plans, saying there were no objections from highways authorities re- garding traffic.

Andrew Simmonds, a resident, said: “They talked about it endlessly and a lot of it was centred around a highways study which was extremely complicated.

“Highways did not object as there had been attempts to improve sight- ing of traffic coming in by cutting hedges. They said it was a difficult case, but it was passed unanimously.”

The original application was refused by Braintree Council last sum- mer because of intrusion into the countryside.

The developer submitted new plans before Easter.

Mr Simmonds said: “I think most of us were of the opinion they would pass it anyway, we were still very disappointed, it will be chaos.”

Residents on Facebook called the decision a “disaster”.

Witham MP Priti Patel said the result was disappointing.

She said: “The decision taken to impose this huge development on the village is unwelcome and undermines the hard work the community has done on the Local Plan.

“Following the Stonepath Meadow decision I will be making further representations on behalf of the local community to the council about the way that these two decisions have been reached.”

Last month the council approved 140 homes at Stonepath Meadow.

The developer said full consideration had been given to the nature of the Gleneagles Way site.