A RESILIENT group of residents have hit their fundraising target to fight against a controversial housing development in their village.

Action group No to Grange Road Development has reached the £5,500 target it set in a bid to fight back against plans to build 110 homes on land off Grange Road, in Lawford.

The fighting fund came after Gladman Developments Limited lodged an appeal following Tendring Council’s decision to reject the proposals, which received a total of 280 objections.

The group has been collecting funds from residents over the past two months and will use the cash to fund a planning advisor to put their case to a Government inspector.

John Hall, campaigner, said: “Thank you very much to all those who donated. We can now meet with the planning advisor.

“She has a good understanding of planning law and the appeal process so she can advise us how best to present our case to the planning inspector.” The action group consists of ten residents who are determined to fight the application by explaining to the inspector why houses should not be built on this site.

Mr Hall added: “There are many reasons why this is the wrong place to build 110 houses – both Tendring Council and Lawford residents know that.

“It is essential that we give sound planning reasons to the inspector to ensure its refusal.

“Gladman will put up a very strong case.

“But we will do our very best to make sure they do not win this one.

“We are very grateful indeed to every resident who contributed to the fighting fund, which will pay for the professional advice that we need.”

The appeal hearing date by the inspector is yet to be announced, and once it is residents will have a month to write in with any new objections or comments.

Gladman Developments Limited was not available for comment.