PARISH councillors have finally recommended a controversial plan for 165 newhomes in Little Clacton should be refused.

Residents set up the Save Our Village campaign to fight the proposals by Nigel Barrington-Fuller, who owns Swain’s Farm, to build 131 houses and 24 flats on 16 acres of farmland off The Street.

The campaign group hit out at parish councillors for not speaking out against the plans last month, but after requesting further time and information from Tendring Council, the parish council has recommended the plans should be refused.

Little Clacton Parish Council said: “After considerable scrutiny, the Little Clacton Parish Council working party feel the proposed development is too large to be sustainable as there is insufficient infrastructure in place to support a scheme of this magnitude.

“The proposed application is on working agricultural land. This application site was not included as part of the 2007 Local Plan nor been considered for the 2014 Local Plan. With the lack of information and reports from the various government agencies and authorities, including a flood risk assessment, we recommend refusal of this outline application.”

The final decision on the plans will be made by Tendring Council.

Anti-homes campaigner Martyn Reed, who lives in The Street, said: “This a very positive step for us and means the plan will, at worst, be revised and in its present form is very likely to be rejected by Tendring Council’s planning committee.”