CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for hundreds of new homes in Epping have said they are "staggered" at the results of their own traffic survey.

People opposed to the creation of 351 properties on the former St Margaret's Hospital site counted the number of vehicles which pass the would-be development at rush-hour.

And the figure was so high, they are worried the extra traffic generated by the new development on The Plain will lead to mayhem.

Supporters of the Plainly Say No' campaign claim more than 600 vehicles an hour passed the site on a Monday morning rush-hour. Some 617 vehicles were clocked between 7am and 8am and 675 were spotted between 8am and 9am, on Monday, February 25.

The following day 492 vehicles were seen passing the entrance to the development site between 6am and 7am.

Leading campaigner Jeanette Goatcher said: "My feeling is that the proposed development would add up to 100 vehicles per hour at peak times, with 8am to 9am probably being the worst, as already borne out by the survey.

"The statistics have been passed to the planners. We are staggered at the result. We all know the road is already over-busy but when you see the numbers in print it is astounding."

The plans will be on display at Epping Hall, St John's Road, in Epping, between 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Monday (March 17), when planning officers and representatives from the developer Bellway Homes are expected to be available to answer questions.

No date has yet been set for when the application, which already has outline planning consent, will be discussed by district councillors.

For more on the application, see the plans at the planning department at the Civic Offices, in Epping, or visit the campaign website www.psn.weebly.com or email bridgethegap@ntlworld.com.