THE scale of opposition to plans to build 1,000 new homes at a popular beauty spot has been revealed, after results of a public consultation were published 18 months on.

Residents were invited to give their thoughts on Defence Infrastructure Organisation plans for the new estate at Middlewick Ranges back in July 2019.

More than 500 residents attended the events with 231 submitting official responses.

A third of the responses called for the development to be scrapped and The Wick, as it is known by residents, to be turned into a country park.

A total of 141 residents also raised concerns about traffic and access issues to the estate whilst others said the area’s infrastructure cannot cope.

A report compiled by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation said: “The majority of respondents expressed objection or opposition towards development at the site, largely citing the loss of ecology and leisure space and concern for the ability of transport and social infrastructure to cope with increased homes as primary issues for concern.”

Despite residents’ concerns, the MoD is set to go ahead with the sale of The Wick, although it is expected to go ahead in 2022 rather than 2021. The site has been allocated for homes in Colchester Council’s local plan.

A community newsletter will be delivered to 6,000 homes in the area over the coming weeks.

Sir Bob Russell, Colchester’s former MP and High Steward, described the plans as “awful”.

He added: “Councillors must stand firm and stop the Government selling this land for housing, an estate of 1,000 dwellings which will be an urban sprawl destroying the last surviving area of natural heath in Colchester. It should be retained as a public park for South Colchester.

“I have seen some bad planning over the years, but what is proposed for Middlewick is worse than anything else that has been inflicted on Colchester in my lifetime.”

“The council must stop the Government – the Ministry of Defence – from inflicting this environmental blunder on Colchester.”

Labour councillors for Berechurch and Old Heath and Hythe have been campaigning against the sale of The Wick.

Dave Harris said: “The six councillors in Old Heath and Berechurch remain committed to the take it off the table message.”