The following is a letter from The United Dengie Councils on Chelmsford City Council's masterplan for a development of up to 1,020 homes on land north of South Woodham Ferrers.

The current plans would turn a section of Burnham Road into an "urban street", which means it would have more pedestrian crossings, new roundabouts and a reduced speed limit.

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We ask you to look again at the intention expressed in your masterplan - to reclassify Burnham Road (B1012) as a "street". In our opinion, this plan is unworkable.

We are extremely concerned that our opinions on the future of the B1012 have been entirely disregarded in both the South Woodham Ferrers (SWF) Neighbourhood Plan and Chelmsford's masterplan for area 10.

The B1012 is the primary main route in and out of the Dengie and your proposals will add pedestrian crossings - each with a set of traffic lights - and another roundabout between Hamberts Road and Fenn Farm, all of which are clearly a recipe for serious congestion.

In the past it has been proven that when roadworks have slowed the B1012, traffic backs up and many drivers have diverted via Ferrers Road or via Crows Lane and Edwins Hall Lane - both single track roads with highly vulnerable soft verges - causing gridlock for South Woodham Ferrers and Dengie commuter traffic at peak times.

The SWF Neighbourhood Plan was approved by the inspector who was able to disregard all public comments relating to traffic on the B1012 because the Chelmsford Masterplan, on which this was based, had been approved by both Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council.

The glaring omission in both the SWF Neighbourhood Plan and the Chelmsford Masterplan is a recommendation for a northern bypass.

We understand that unless the SWF Neighbourhood Plan is approved by referendum, SWF Town Council stands to lose 10 per cent of the developer's payment (Community Infrastructure Levy money). This will put pressure on the residents of South Woodham Ferrers to approve this document whilst the Dengie parishes will have no say in this vote.

Once the neighbourhood plan has been approved by SWF residents, it is our belief that the developers can proceed with their masterplan on the basis that the road infrastructure has been approved by SWF residents.

Even if it is ultimately decided that the SWF Neighbourhood Plan should not be allowed to influence any final decision on highways, we remain extremely concerned that we are being excluded from the decision-making process on a matter of such fundamental importance to the entire area.

We therefore ask that you provide all the councils affected by your plan with a workable solution that will improve the traffic flow around South Woodham Ferrers.

Implementing the current SWF Neighbourhood Plan and the current masterplan for area 10 in their present form will irrevocably disadvantage those dependent on road transport in South Woodham Ferrers and the Dengie.

TO READERS: It is very important that you send your comments in before 7 January. One sentence or just a single paragraph is much better than no response.

To comment on the hybrid planning application click here.

Click "select" and answer the question, then click go and (2) where it says "enter a keyword, reference number, postcode" search for 21/01961/OUT. Then you can (3) click "make a comment". Signed on behalf of the following councils: Althorne Parish Council

Asheldham and Dengie Parish Council

Bradwell-on-Sea Parish Council

Cold Norton Parish Council

Mayland Parish Council

Mundon Parish Council

North Fambridge Parish Council

Purleigh Parish Council

St Lawrence Parish Council

Steeple Parish Council

Stow Maries Parish Council