TOWN councillors in Dunmow are fighting housing developments on three fronts after viewing planning applications this week. Three major developments have reached the planning stage and all are in very close proximity or even inside Dunmow town centre s co

TOWN councillors in Dunmow are fighting housing developments on three fronts after viewing planning applications this week.

Three major developments have reached the planning stage and all are in very close proximity or even inside Dunmow town centre's conservation area and all have been labelled as "slums of the future" by deputy mayor Gwynn Davies.

Streets up for major changes are Chequers Lane (behind the old police station), The Causeway (land at the rear of number 37), New Street Fields and Springfields, as in total 53 houses may be constructed and two demolished, subject to planning permission being granted by Uttlesford District Council.

Members of Dunmow town council's planning committee have lodged an extensive list of objections to all three developments with a view to getting them gunned down at the next planning committee meeting Wednesday July 2.

Committee chair and town mayor Clive Smith said: "Great Dunmow is still a small rural market town and we don't want all this development on our doorstep.

"The designs, construction materials and sheer numbers are unsuitable for the town and its conservation area."

Derelict land at the back of a house in Springfields has caused the most controversy over the past two years, as wrangles over road access have dogged the developers, Zog Ltd.

The result is a new design for a slip road to be built connecting the new estate to the old bypass near to the Flitch Way.

Cllr Peter Toms was very animated when explaining why he thought the development as a whole was not acceptable. "People who used to see greenery outside there window will be met with brick walls, as this estate within an estate bears no resemblance to its surroundings. If we are not careful we will have something that looks like another Travelodge."

Planning decisions on all three developments were due to be decided by Uttlesford District Council yesterday evening, July 2, and the Dunmow Broadcast will bring you the results online at www.dunmow broadcast24.co.uk and full details will be in next week's paper.

But we want hear what you think, e-mail us at nick.thompson @archant.co.uk or write to us at 2 Angel Lane, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1AQ.