A retired South Woodham couple have launched a protest campaign over plans to erect three large houses outside their back garden.

Gordon and Alice Blower said they were very upset about the proposal which they said would put a "huge great obelisk" a few metres away from their garden fence - blocking out their natural light.

The Blowers, who have lived in their Victoria Road bungalow for 15 years, have also compiled a petition consisting of 28 signatures from neighbours who support their objections.

"This was supposed to be our retirement home," said Mrs Blower. "Neither of us are particularly well and to have all this worry at a time in our lives when we thought we were settled is such a shame.

"If those plans are approved it will be a nightmare."

Debenham Homes Ltd of Chelmsford has applied to the borough council's planning department to put three houses along a strip of land in Hullbridge Road, one of which - a 42ft wide by 26ft high property - would be just beyond their garden boundary.

"To make matters worse, we were only given six working days notice to make our objections," said Mrs Blower.

"If this goes ahead, all we will see is a great big flank wall from our patio, it will look like the blooming Titanic."

Ben Debenham, director of Debenham Homes, said: "We believe the application is reasonable and we have been in discussion with the planners.

"As far as we are concerned the development is suitable for the properties that we are envisaging in an area where there is a random mixture of properties."

Cllr John Cheese, chairman of South Woodham Town Council's planning committee, said: "The town council objects to this application as it is considered to be overbearing on the street scene and particularly on this property in Victoria Road.

"It is inconsistent with the surrounding environment, which on this side of Hullbridge Road is all bungalows."

Gavin Kingsnorth, the Chelmsford Borough Council planning officer involved with the application, said: "The proposal has yet to go before a planning committee and there is no date for this as yet.

"Any objections we receive will be considered along with everything else. The borough council welcomes any representations from local people including Mr and Mrs Blower."

Gordon and Alice Blower are pictured with a scale model of how the proposed development would look.

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