PLANS for a block of flats which a community association has warned could put it out of business will be decided on appeal.

Chris Rotsey's application to demolish his own house at 2 Westbury Road, Buckhurst Hill, to replace it with a four-storey block of seven flats has drawn objections from nearly 300 residents, councillors and the local MP.

Chris Marshall of Scotland Road, Buckhurst Hill, has been leading the residents' campaign against the plans of Mr Rotsey, who at one time was a campaigner, himself, against flats in the area.

Mr Marshall said: “The mass of the single block building is significant and large and totally inappropriate for such a small site.

"Physically joined to the 2 Westbury Road house is Bedford House, from which premises the Buckhurst Hill Community Association has successfully operated for 60 years providing adult education courses to a wide community.

“Noise and disruption from the lengthy construction period will force classes to be closed, leading to closure of the centre as they rely on annual income.”

Sue Cord, of Ongar Road, Abridge, has attended Spanish lessons at Bedford House for the last three years.

She said: “I would be upset. There will be a lot more noise and disruption there and there's already limited parking. It would disrupt the classes.”

After Epping Forest District Council rejected the scheme, the fate of the site will be decided by the Planning Inspectorate.

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing has said she will write to the Inspectorate urging a refusal.

She said: “I'm absolutely supportive of the people who do such a great job at the community association.”

Despite the opposition to his plans, Mr Rotsey said he was confident they would be successful.

He said: “I think it will go through now. The planning officers actually recommended it for approval- we have worked very closely with them. It was rejected at committee. There were a number of protesters there and the councillors didn't want to be seen as out-of-touch.”

Mr Rotsey said he expected the appeal to be decided by January next year.

Residents can submit their views on the proposal to the district council at its offices in Epping.