A CAMPAIGN group which is fighting against plans to build 78 homes in Witham is set to register as a charity in a bid to protect other areas of the town.

Residents behind the Heart of Witham Preservation Group say they want to use the group to prevent developers targetting areas such as Whetmead Nature Reserve, River Walk and the James Cooke Woods.

It comes as donations to the group to pay for legal costs if the Gimsons application is called in pass the £3,000 mark.

Co-founder Rebekah McGrane said: "We've been told that if it is called in then we're going to need some legal representation so that's what it will be used for.

"We're extremely appreciative of all the money we've raised so far. I've done a lot of fundraising over the years so I was quite confident we'd do well with it.

"But the rate at which it came in was a surprise - I think we hit £1,000 within 24 hours."

The group says any of the cash which is not used will go towards supporting other Witham community projects which it will be working on once it becomes a charity.

Rebekah said: "We're not going to go away. I've been here since 1975 and Dudley (Chignall, fellow member) has been here longer than that.

"These are things we care about and we want to protect them so that we don't have to deal with anything like this (Gimsons) again."

Meanwhile, Priti Patel MP raised concerns her own specific concerns about the Gimsons application during a debate on housing in Parliament.

Speaking afterwards she said: "Residents across the Witham constituency have been rightly angered by a number of planning applications and decisions including the recent decision on the Gimsons site and the applications being considered at Stonepath Meadow, Gleneagles Way and Barbrook Lane.

"Unsuitable developments undermine public confidence in the planning system and cause significant pressures on infrastructure and services including roads, schools and GP surgeries.

"The government must do more to empower local communities in the planning process.

"We also need to see the Government answer questions that have been raised over the garden settlement plans for this part of Essex."

The group are appealing for donations. Visit gofundme.com/preserve-the-heart-of-witham if you wish to donate.