RESIDENTS are running out of time to have their say on a new town near Marks Tey.

The Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex is warning that unless residents speak up before the end of Braintree Council's Local Plan Consultation period on August 19, they will miss their chance all together.

When the consultation closes, any comments will be passed on directly to the planning inspector.

Braintree are working with Colchester and Tendring councils to meet with the demand for housing in the region – where there is a need for 845 homes in the Braintree district per year until 2033.

New ‘garden settlements’ proposals are being earmarked as the solution and an area between Marks Tey and Coggeshall has been allocated for an initial 2,500 homes in the plan period to 2033.

But CAUSE has warned that the public may also be confused about the amount of homes proposed in new the garden settlements.

There are four proposals outlined for the new town near Marks Tey, one of which contains as many as 28,000 homes.

Rosie Pearson, Secretary of CAUSE, said: "Clearly, behind the scenes there is activity geared towards assessing the 28,000 home option but it would appear that this is not being consulted on.

"Local people need to be made aware that the Plan period figure is the thin edge of the wedge.

“The Council has produced maps of the 28,000 home option, which they're not showing at the drop-in sessions.

“They are publicly available on the council websites, but well-hidden deep in pages of documents.

“I believe that the local public should be aware of the full possible extent of the proposals.”

CAUSE have regularly expressed their uncertainty over whether the authorities will be able to deliver the infrastructural improvements that they have promised.

Mrs Pearson said: “With uncertainty about the route of the A120 and the funding; especially given Brexit and the removal of hope of EU funding towards it; combined with capacity issues on the trains, CAUSE believes that 'West Tey' should be removed from this Plan Period.”

There are a series of drop-in sessions for residents coming up around the areas affected.

Coggeshall St Peters Church 18 July 2.30pm- 7.30pm

Eight Ash Green Village Hall 18 July 4pm - 8pm

Wakes Colne Village Hall 19 July 4pm - 8pm

Stanway Village Hall 23 July 10am - 2pm

Feering Community Centre 25 July 2.30pm - 7.30pm