Essington homes plan 'will ruin village'
Angry residents have warned their village will be ruined by controversial plans to build more than 200 homes.
Work is already underway in Hobnock Road, Essington, but campaigners are trying to stop it by taking legal action.
Essington Action Group has asked the village’s parish council to fund a judicial review into how the project was granted planning permission.
Councillor Denise James, chair of Essington Parish Council, said the authority supported the action group.
At the meeting on Monday night at Essington Community Centre, councillors decided to look into supporting campaigners with a judicial review.
Campaigners are still calculating the financial cost of such a process.
Dozens of residents attended the meeting and voiced their concerns over the plans to councillors.
A total of 230 homes were granted planning permission by South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee in November.
Residents say traffic and pollution will become much worse in Essington and there will also be strains on school places.
One woman said at the meeting: “I live right opposite the school and with these new homes being built, I don’t know if my child will be able to get a place there.”
Another man told the meeting: “If these plans go ahead then this will be devastating for the village. It will affect traffic and pollution.
"Families who have lived here for generations who have lived in this village might have to send their children to schools outside.”
