Villagers in the hamlet of Blackmore End are poised to fight another bid by lorry firm, Courtenham's, to develop its haulage depot for housing.

The company has appealed against Braintree Council's refusal of planning permission for new homes on the five-acre site which is in open countryside.

A local inquiry will be held at the council offices on April 27 and 28. Wethersfield Parish Council has opposed the plans since they were lodged last April.

Council chairman, David Foster, said: "We had a meeting to gauge feeling some time ago. People did not want it. The development is too big for the existing village and would have too big an impact."

Braintree Council turned down the proposal on the grounds that it would intrude on the countryside and set a precedent for similar developments in rural areas..

"The redevelopment of this site for housing would be intrusive in the landscape and detrimental to the character of the area," said planning director, Roger Barrett, in a report.

Courtenham's claims the development would be preferable to the heavy lorry traffic on narrow roads that residents have endured for 25 years. The company wants to sell the land for housing to fund a move to larger premises in Braintree.

The closing date for any representations is March 30.

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