TWO town councils are refusing to back revised plans which could see more than 50 homes built.

A second application was submitted to Braintree District Council in May for permission to construct 58 houses on land south of Rickstones Road, in Rivenhall.

It came after another application to build the same number of homes on the same site was submitted last September and refused in May.

It was refused because the proposed development would destroy an important hedgerow and give an urban feel to a rural area.

And at a meeting last week, councillors at Witham Town Council, recommended refusal for the new plans over concerns about infrastructure.

It went before the town council despite it not being part of the statutory consultation process because the proposed development sits within the Rivenhall Parish.

However, the plans were seen to be an urban extension of Witham and it was thought residents of the new homes would rely on services in Witham.

Concerns were raised over the pressure on surgeries and roads in the area which would likely come as a result of the houses.

Last month, the fresh proposal went before Rivenhall Parish Council which also recommended it be refused.

James Abbott, chairman of the Rivenhall council, said: "We're pleased to see the developer has listened to us and that now there's a proposal to keep most of the hedge.

"However there's a lot of confusion in the application because what they plan to do with the hedge depends on which part of the document you read.

"But we're still maintaining a strong objection to the fact that this development would lead to the coalescence of Rivenhall and Witham which is clearly against the council's own policies.

"So, in essence we're pleased to see some movement by the developers but it's not nearly enough to lead us to withdraw the objections."

Braintree District Council will make the final decision on the application.