PARISH councillors in Mile End have drawn up their own blueprints outlining how they want to see land for housing developed.

Myland Parish Council fears building 2,200 homes on land west of Mile End Road could be a disaster.

So, in response to a Colchester Council consultation on the area, they have spent £3,500 on plans they would like to see implemented.

The borough council document on the 100-hectare North Growth Area Urban Extension does not insist on a secondary school.

But, the parish council believes one will be necessary, and highlights four potential sites in Mile End for a school for up to 1,200 pupils. It also believes two primary schools, not one, will be necessary because of Mile End’s rising population.

Martin Goss, a borough and parish councillor for Myland, said: “It’s absolutely imperative people get involved in this consultation, because we’re talking about the future of Mile End.

“If we don’t get it right, then it’s going to be an absolute disaster.”

Myland council is also calling for two shopping areas, rather than one, as well as the introduction of a Hopper bus service for the area.

It wants improvements to traffic problems around North Station to be in place before the first houses are built.

l Public meetings on Colchester Council’s supplementary planning document will take place on Thursday, at Colchester Golf Club, Braiswick, from 3pm to 8pm, and at St Michael’s Church Hall, Mile End Road, from 10am to 3pm on Saturday.

Questionnaires can also be filled in online at the following: colchester.gov.uk:80/Info_page_two_pic_2_det.asp?art_id=8616&sec_id=2226 before March 5.

Myland Parish Council’s alternative can be viewed at its offices at 101 Nayland Road from 9am to 1pm, Mon-Fri.