A community group is set to launch plans to protect green spaces and fields from being swallowed up by housing.

Karen Brown, chairman of the Braintree East Pride in our Patch community group, has spent a year drawing up a community plan to influence development around east Braintree, in the hope that it can have an impact on future changes brought about by allocated housing provision.

The intial plan, which also includes concerns about parking, speeding and congestion, has been drawn up after 500 questionnaires were handed out to residents It is due to be presented at a public exhibition later this month.

Mrs Brown said: “One of the main concerns is green spaces in the area and people want to keep as much as possible."

* See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.