RESIDENTS are preparing to go to war again to protect their parish boundaries.

Braintree Council announced recently it would be conducting a wide-ranging boundary review of parish and town councils in the district.

Residents are invited to have their say on a set of proposals, in what Braintree Council has called the “first formal review” since 1983.

Great Notley Parish Council has asked the District Council to extend their Northern boundary to include the currently unparished area of Braintree between Queenborough Lane, the B1256 (by-pass)/ A120 and London Road.

They have also requested that the new development site East of London Road be included within an extended Great Notley Parish Boundary.

The Council have concluded that no decision be made about Parish arrangements until the new development has been completed and the Community identity established.

Sid Quattrucci, of Greenways Gardens, Black Notley, said residents of the Braintree West area have already fought off similar plans three times, the first of which was in 1998.

He said: “We collected a petition and won our case the first time. There was another petition in 2002 and the council didn’t pursue it further after that.

“I don’t know why we have to keep doing this. It seems like they’re not happy until they get what they want.

"Nobody wants to join Great Notley, we're perfectly happy as part of Braintree West as we have been for a long time."

Great Notley Parish Council has also asked that land east of London Road become part of the parish due to its inclusion as an area for housing growth within the draft local plan.

David Coghlan, a resident of Oaklands Close, Black Notley, said that in excess of 80 per cent of residents supported the boundaries remaining as they are.

He said: “I have lived here for nearly 50 years and we have always been part of Braintree.

“This has happened every few years since the first in 1998. We will do another petition if we need to stop it.”

A spokesman for Great Notley Parish Council said: "The Parish Council knows that some residents have in the past have not wished to be included within the Great Notley Parish. 

"The proposal now comes within the context of a District-wide review of Parish boundaries initiated by Braintree Council.

"Braintree Council is seeking views on the proposals and anyone outside the parish but within an area that might be incorporated into the parish can make their view known as part of that consultation process. 

"Braintree Council will decide on the merits of the proposals and any representations in due course."

To find out more visit www.braintree.gov.uk/cgr.