CAMPAIGNERS have gathered a 2,700-name petition opposing a new housing estate on green belt land in Corringham.

Detailed plans have been submitted to Thurrock Council for 750 homes on a site, known as Williamsons Farm, which is off Southend Road, near Gable Hall School.

The Save Corringham Greenbelt group made history last year by collecting 1,500 signatures and forcing Thurrock Council to debate the previous proposal for the site.

Planning agent Iceni Projects and developer Cogent Land LLP eventually walked away.

However, the plans have been revised and re-submitted, this time including a new primary school and a railway station.

Campaigners have been going door-to-door in streets around the site, collecting the 2,762 names on the new petition, which has handed into the council, triggering another debate.

Campaigner Paul Mitchell, 40, Brampton Close, Corringham, said: “We’ve worked so hard to get the numbers.

“In the end, though, we had people queuing up to sign. There’s a huge amount of support in the community.

“We understand houses have to be built, but not at the expense of existing communities.

“To build this would cripple Corringham because we would be gridlocked. Developers tried their luck two years ago and nothing has changed here since.

“This is still wrong. If 99 percent of the community is against it then surely it must still be wrong.”

Fellow campaigner Anne Sandu said: “The roads wouldn’t be able to take this development. The developer did a traffic survey in 2008, but how can that be relevant now? It’s just impossible!”

Corringham and Fobbing councillors Andrew Roast and Deb Stewart also oppose the plans.

A joint statement from the pair says: “Local residents know the current demand on our roads, shops, doctors, dentists and amenities. These extra homes are simply not sustainable.

“These 2,762 signatures on a petition to reject the application shows the weight of local public opinion and the knowledge of our community.”

The council is due to debate the issue in September before the planning committee makes its decision in October.

Can campaigners see off developers a third time?

This is the third time developers have submitted plans for a huge housing development on the Williamsons Farm site.

In 2008, campaigners succeeded in defeating the application, triumphing a second time early last year when the developer walked away from the project in the face of fierce local opposition.

After Thurrock Council got campaigners’ 1,500-name petition and was forced to debate the issue, councillors from all parties united behind the petition. Campaigners are hoping the same thing will happen again.

The latest plans include a new railway station on the c2c line, but residents remain sceptical the station would ever materialise.