Local MP, Mark Francois, has reacted to last night’s decision by Rochford District Council’s Development Committee to defer Bloor Homes’ major planning application to build 662 dwellings just off the Ashingdon Road, by supporting calls for the Council to commission a detailed independent analysis of their disputed traffic implications.

After a long meeting, lasting some three and a half hours, the councillors voted to defer a decision on the controversial plans, to allow for them to be scrutinised in greater depth. A particular area of concern, raised by numerous councillors, was the accuracy of the developer’s traffic projections and whether they had been adequately assessed by Essex County Council’s Highways Department.

Commenting on the outcome of the Committee as the local MP, whose constituents would be most affected by the plans, Mark said:

“As someone who objected to Bloor’s proposals, which to me represent trying to cram a quart into a pint pot, I am pleased they did not go through. However, I think the suggestion by a number of councillors, to commission a fully independent traffic assessment, without having to rely on either the Developer’s own consultants or ECC, has real merit. I know that would cost money but the cost to my constituents of getting this decision wrong would be far higher.”