A controversial housing scheme for Great Totham has been thrown out by councillors.

Forty-one homes were to be built on land off Hall Road in the village if Maldon councillors gave the go-ahead.

But they shunned officers recommendations and blocked the plans at a meeting last night (Monday).

Developer Colliers Trucks Builders wants to put 24 houses on one half of the site - eight four-bedroom homes and 16 three-bedroom - and a further 11 houses and six flats on the rest of the land.

The original outline plans on the former industrial site were thrown out by district councillors, but the company appealed to the Secretary of State and was given permission to press ahead with the scheme.

But now councillors are blocking its next move, refusing to accept detailed plans for a development.

Speaking at the north western area planning committee meeting Rodney Bass (Con, Great Totham) said that the village would not be able to cope with the extra population.

He added: "The community gets nothing out of this plan at all and that is what irritates the people of Great Totham."

Councillors were also angry that the developers wanted to re-route an historic footpath called Church Walk to make way for the housing.

The committee voted unanimously to reject the proposals, adding that they would have been happier to see a "comprehensive development plan" of the whole site.

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