Clucking mad protestors took to the streets to oppose the redevelopment of a historic piece of land in a village.

GFK Homes has applied for permission to create 11 properties on an area of land to the west of Water Lane, Stisted, known as Chicken Meadow.

The proposals, which include the creation of a new village car park, community shelter, and a memorial on the site, have drawn widespread criticism from the community and over the weekend a group of feathered campaigners visited the site to show their distaste for the scheme.

Caroline Beaumont was joined in full chicken costume by her husband Steven, as well as residents Alexandra Byrne and Sam Greaves.

She said: "The whole village is up in arms against this proposal.

"It is a significant site and it is outside of the development envelope of the village.

"When something is outside of the development boundary it should not be built on and Chicken Meadow is a heritage site.

"The church is a Grade-I listed church which will be obscured from the road if this development goes ahead. It dates back to the Doomsday Book.

"The meadow itself is a heritage site and dates back to medieval times."

According to its proposals, GFK wants to transfer 20 per cent of each cottage’s value to Stisted Parish Council and is calling its plans a "community-led" residential development.

The developer says councillors would then undertake a “vetting process” where they look to offer the four new homes to existing residents first, before then considering applications from other interested parties.

However Stisted Parish Council has officially raised its objections to the plans with Braintree Council.

Mrs Beaumont said the members of Stisted Preservation Society insist an archaeological survey would be necessary before any development took place in the area because of its historic past.

She added: "The developer says the development will be community-led, but there was no consultation with the villagers.

"If we do not try and save these places now then they will be gone forever."

A spokesman for GFK Homes said: "There was a pre application consultation with the parish council long before the application was submitted.

"Last Friday we held a four hour open session at the village hall for any household from the village to attend and express and discuss the planning proposal.

"Ultimately the application will be judged on its merits by the planning authority and residents have been invited to comment on the proposals by the council.

"The application is described as being community led, because it includes affordable housing for the community along with other community orientated benefits."

"During the planning of this development we consulted with Purcell whom specialise in archaeological history and conservation. Their recommendations were fully respected within our proposal."

Braintree Council's planning committee will have the final say.