FED up residents say they are living a nightmare after a series of “ridiculous” planning applications have left them surrounded by building sites.

Various locations in Stoney Hills, Burnham, are under construction and have resulted in lorries using the area’s narrow country lanes to deliver materials.

Other housing sites have been shrouded in eyesore hoardings for more than 15 months.

Residents, who have had reported damage to their gardens, cars and properties by lorries, have now restored to installing CCTV and lobbying MP John Wittingdale.

So far this year Maldon District Council has one application for homes pending and has approved one bid for two homes.

In 2016 six applications for Stoney Hills were approved and two rejected.

Lynn Ing, 64, of Monsfield in Stoney Hills, said: “We are getting problems with people speeding down here and one of my neighbours had a big lorry come tearing down the road and caught on branches in her garden and uprooted a tree trunk.

“It is ridiculous – an application in Tillingham got turned down because the road was too small. Our road is just three metres wide – why aren’t these applications being turned down?”

Mrs Ing has now put up CCTV to catch wayward lorry drivers as a result of the developments.

“It is just one thing after another,” she said. “No one seems to be doing anything. We have written letters and we don’t get anything back.

“We have also contacted John Whittingdale. At the moment we are going round and round in circles.”

Two years ago angry residents hit out claiming the roads around Stoney Hills were “simply unsuitable” for lorries needed for construction work.

A spokesman for Maldon District Council said: "The council is aware of a number of new dwellings granted planning permission by both the Council and the Planning Inspector in the Stoney Hills area of Burnham.

"We understand the concerns raised by residents in relation to a number of problems including damage being caused by lorries visiting the building sites and temporary hoardings.

"The council’s planning service has dealt with many of the queries and concerns.  Unfortunately, whilst the council is keen to assist in resolving such issues they are normally something that would fall outside of the council’s control and these issues must be addressed and resolved by the person or company causing the damage.

"The Government gives deemed consent for some forms of development through the Permitted Development legislation.

"Temporary hoardings around building sites, in most instances, fall within this allowance and are allowed while the development is ongoing without the need for planning permission being granted from the council.

"Whilst the council understands the frustration that these structures can cause neighbours it is something outside of the council’s control."