PLANNED traffic lights to serve a major housing scheme in Kirby Cross would risk lives and bring “absolute chaos,” councillors have warned.

Frinton and Walton Town Council again voiced its objections to a planned 240-home scheme on land east of Halstead Road in advance of a planning inquiry.

Tendring Council refused the application from Welbeck Homes and Elizabeth Clarke in November, but the developers have gone to appeal.

Up to 240 homes with a “community hub” including either a 40-bed care home or healthcare facility is proposed on the site north of Kirby Cross, with access from Halstead Road, Woburn Avenue and Buckfast Avenue.

The proposal includes traffic lights where Halstead Road meets Frinton Road, but Tendring Council said they would worsen congestion and safety.

However, Tendring Council will now only appeal on “green gap” grounds to help save the open space between Kirby le Soken and Kirby Cross, leaving the town council to object on other grounds.

Town and district councillor Nick Turner warned: “It will be hell. It will be chaos.

“To allow a developer to build on a green gap, it goes against everything.

Seventeen thousand people are going to suffer pain so a developer can put up 240 houses.”

Vanda Watling was concerned about access for emergency services and added: “Traffic lights will create a gridlock back to Weeley.

“We are absolutely at the mercy of this developer. We have thousands of people arriving on our beaches every day. We are just hemming ourselves in.”

Mrs Watling said there was no need for the planned care home as the £9.2million sale of Beaumonts at Frinton Manor, in Kirby Cross, would now see the completion of an 82-bed scheme, while others in the area were struggling to fill their beds.

The scheme is now set to be decided by a Government inspector.