PLANS for 159 homes in a mid Essex village have been agreed, despite residents' fears.

Welbeck Strategic Land IV LLP has been given the green light for the development for the land north of West Street, Tollesbury.

More than 700 residents and Priti Patel MP previously spoke out against the plans.

Maldon District Council's district planning committee discussed the plans at a meeting on Wednesday, 28 October when one resident, Mr Gilbert, said: "Here we go again trying to save our remote rural village from ruin.

"The planners' report shows 724 objections, not from nimbys or blockers, residents who voted for you.

"Building more and more houses without required infrastructure will make our village less sustainable. Residents are very concerned about traffic and pedestrian safety throughout the village as well as the North Roads very narrow pavements. Please dont inflict anxiety or misery on local communities."

Another resident said: "These are reasons for refusal, an unsustainable location, unsafe access, inadequate services, car dependency and unresolved traffic impacts. Conditions and contributions cannot repair an unsuitable location."

A spokesman for the developer said: "There is a substantial unmet need for market and affordable housing, and this would make a significant contribution to the housing need.

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"Further assessment of Colchester Road concludes that the anticipated traffic increase based on a worst case scenario would not cause material adverse impact on the roads, its ecological function or its heritage significance."