RESIDENTS have been left outraged after planners approved blueprints for a 280 home estate in their rural village.

Applicants Brian and Eileen Lumber and David Weeley resubmitted their application for the homes, on a site south of Thorpe Road, Weeley, to Tendring Council after planners decided not to contest an appeal.

The plans, which include a new primary school, 56-place early years nursery, offices and public open space, were originally refused by the council in November.

But the authority decided not to defend the decision after the applicants lodged an appeal earlier this year.

The newly submitted plans were approved by the council’s planning committee by six votes to three at Clacton Town Hall on Monday.

Weeley and Tendring councillor Peter Harris said residents were outraged by the decision.

“This decision is extremely disappointing and there is a lot of anger in the village about it,” he said.

“The town hall was packed and there was uproar when they made the decision.

“This decision will turn our village into a town - it will completed destroy the character of Weeley.

“This development means we could be looking at more than 500 extra vehicles coming out of a single road and will see people using roads in Tendring village as a rat run.

“The people living opposite will face more than five years of torture and it threatens the very existence of Tendring Riding Club - there are some very angry people.

“This decision is a massive mistake. It has been granted based on the pressure put on the planning committee for financial reasons - to avoid potential costs awarded against the council at an appeal.

“But they have badly let down the people of Weeley.”

John White, chairman the committee, said it had been a difficult decision to take.

“This application has a complex history, and members fully understand local residents’ objections to the development,” he said.

“However, in planning terms this application is sound, and considering the independent legal advice given and the infrastructure the development will bring in terms of school places and employment land, it is one we backed.”