CAMPAIGNERS halted traffic in a demonstration as they warned of the impact building 1,000 homes on a beauty spot could have.
Residents voiced their concerns during the action in Old Heath Road, Colchester, by walking back and forth across a zebra crossing to slow motorists.
It came in a last ditch bid ahead of a crunch meeting at the Town Hall tonight where councillors are due to finalise Middlewick Ranges’ future surrounding Section 2 of Colchester’s Local Plan.
In total 1,000 homes are proposed for the site dubbed the “green lungs” of the borough as the Ministry of Defence is expected to sell it when firing operations move to Fingringhoe.
Old Heath resident Dave Smith organised the event which took place for 17 minutes at noon yesterday, with each second of the action representing a house to be built.
“Middlewick is not a suitable place to build 1,000 homes, it shouldn’t be happening as the roads can’t take it,” said Mr Smith, 63.
“We’ve got to do everything we can to stop it going through, it should never have been put in the Local Plan.
“The people here walking across the road are demonstrating the impact extra traffic will have. These delays are going to happen every single day if the houses are built.”
Among the campaigners was John Burgess, who lined the street with a sign stating he was doing it “for our children”.
He said: “The council declared a climate emergency more than two years ago, but they are doing everything they shouldn’t do to act on that emergency.
“I go to Middlewick a lot with my family, it’s somewhere we treasure. We shouldn’t be building houses there, it's clear no one wants it.
“Any ecologist will tell you this is absolute madness.”
Anne Taylor, of Old Heath, added she is “sick of people playing political football” as she joined protesters at the Cavendish Avenue junction.
“If it went ahead I’d be furious, cross, angry for future generations,” she said. “At the end of the day it’s nature and us who will pay the price for it.”
A Colchester Council spokesman stated the authority remains “fully committed” to preserving and enhancing biodiversity in the borough.
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