"SAVE our way of life" was the message from residents who are concerned that plans for new housing could turn their historic village into a full-scale town.
As revealed exclusively in the Gazette on June 26, senior members of Brentwood Borough Council believe around 3,500 homes will need to be built in the area between 2015 and 2030 – with up to 1,500 earmarked for West Horndon.
The village has been put forward due to its "location (being) well-served by existing and proposed local services and facilities".
West Horndon Parish Council chairman Anthony Crowley warned the prospect of such wide expansion would ruin the village.
"It would decimate West Horndon, it wouldn't exist, it would change it, it's as simple as that," he declared.
"We all have to be realistic that change is needed; that change can progress a village, but at the level they are taking is simply ridiculous.
"I was astonished the way it's been set out and the way West Horndon has been singled out is not right.
"We're picking up 43 per cent of the entire Brentwood suggested number of houses.
"You have to question why that is.
"This is crazy – they are discussing the prospect of trebling our village."
Mr Crowley said he was greatly concerned that the infrastructure in the area would not be able to cope with the proposed changes.
Speaking of the area's "packed trains" and "near-full school" he asked: "People here love their village – the question now is would they love their town?"
While the plan promises to protect green belt land as much as possible, district councillor Linda Golding, who represents Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon, joined the villagers' protests with her own war cry: "Major development on green belt – over my dead body."
She added: "I'm totally and utterly against these plans if there's a small bit of green belt that's not affecting anyone then in small ways I've no issue with certain developments there but to take four very large fields – it's obscene. The infrastructure will have to be in place first – you can't extend without it.
"I want the residents to know their county, district and parish councillors are there for whatever fight they want us to put forward."
Following an initial consultation meeting at St Francis' Church hall in Thorndon Avenue on Thursday evening, at which residents discussed the plans, husband and wife Ian and Lisa Atkinson of Dunmow Gardens questioned the council's commitment to the consultation period.
"We've been here 17 years and we want to live in a village not at own – it's about quality of life," said Mrs Atkinson. "Where was the chief planning officer on Thursday?"
Scott Cooper, from nearby Bulphan, said most people in the area do not feel part of Brentwood due to the lack of transport links to the town.
"When we walk out of our house in the morning we know our neighbour, the milkman, the postman, and when the council don't grit our roads in the winter we take care of ourselves," he said.
"I think this is going to change everything – until they actually come and see the area properly I don't see how they can make these plans."
Jennifer Candler, head of planning at the borough council, said: "The borough has to make provision for growth, including homes and jobs, over the next 15 years through the plan.
"The preferred option which is being consulted on is for concentrating development within urban centres and with managed growth at West Horndon.
"If growth at West Horndon were to go forward it would be supported with the necessary infrastructure and improved community facilities.
"At the moment we are out to consultation to seek the views of all communities across the Borough on the plan proposals. At the end of the consultation period all responses will be considered. A number of consultation events are planned throughout the consultation period."
Brentwood Borough Council is consulting on its draft Local Development Plan from July 24 to October 2. Have your say at www.brentwood.gov.uk/localplan
