PLANS for a caravan site at Bradwell Marina will “swamp” the population of the village, it has been claimed.

Strutt and Parker has applied to Maldon District Council to change the use of land in Waterside Road on behalf of Port Flair.

The plans would introduce 70 static caravans for holiday use to the area, plus an office space, amenity block, open space and a children’s playground.

If approved, they would be occupied between March and October.

The initial plans submitted were rejected by Maldon District Council last year following opposition from the Bradwell Against the Caravan Site group. Villagers were concerned the plans would see the population double in size.

Now Bradwell-on-Sea Parish Council have put in a recommendation to refuse the plans, saying the increase of residents would swamp the population of the waterside hamlet to a full blown holiday village.

Bradwell Waterside is a historic settlement mentioned in the Domesday Book, while there are three Grade II listed buildings on Waterside Road.

In her report submitted to the council, Parish Clerk Sarah Sayer stated that roads would not cope with the increased transport, would invade residents’ privacy and would cause a risk of crime to rise as police resources are already limited.

Her report said: “Bradwell-on-Sea is a site of conservation and the small community on Waterside has many original historic dwellings and its character would be destroyed by such a development with 70 caravans and its high perimeter fence.

“There is no NEED, as there are several other caravan parks in Bradwell and surrounding villages that are not to capacity.”