A CAMPAIGNER who battled against controversial plans for 240 new homes in a village is predicting "absolute chaos" when the development finally goes ahead.

Kirby Residents' Association chairman Ray Enever spearheaded the fight against the huge estate off Halstead Road.

Outline plans were turned down, but the developers launched an appeal in a bid to overrule Tendring Council.

A government planning inspector overturned the decision last September.

Mr Enever said: "That was the day democracy died. We put up a huge fight but it was a complete and utter waste of time.

"If the planning inspector had lived in this area he would have known the impact 240 houses would have, but he doesn't so he can't.

"Every village in the area was against it, and it still went through.

"The inspector spent something like eight days down here and he still passed it, saying it was no different to anywhere else which is a crazy situation."

Detailed plans for the estate are still to be released and will have to go before Tendring Council before work can start.

But Mr Enever says soaring traffic levels on Halstead Road are already becoming dangerous.

"Halstead Road is just a windy lane but its almost become a major highway.

"Another 240 houses is going to cause absolute chaos - we are dreading it.

"People are starting to park on the field and are turning it into a sea of mud.

"It's chaos on weekdays and at weekends because there is nowhere to park cars at the school.

"They park in the road and on the pavements and grass verges. They double park and triple park.

"Pensioners can't get past on their scooters and we've had bus drivers blue in the face with frustration because they can't get through

"The police said they it was a problem and came up for several weeks. They were very good, but now they don't come anymore.

"Eventually someone is going to be killed. No one seems to care, but we live here and we do care."

Building work on hundreds of other house in Kirby is already underway after campaigners failed to halt a string of other developments.

The campaign against the Halstead Road homes got backing from other villages.

Mr Enever said: "Every village in the area was against it and it still went through."