CAMPAIGNERS are demanding alternatives are found to major plans to quarry nearly 400 acres of countryside and use it as a flood storage area.

Coggeshall Residents Against the Quarry (Craq) insist the Environment Agency’s bid to turn land between the river Blackwater and Cuthedge Lane into floodplain will cause “irreparable harm” to the nearby area.

The residents’ group insists the quarrying operation would harm the historic nature of nearby Grade I listed buildings, as well as the overall character of Coggeshall.

The plan, which also includes the building of a dam, will see the owners of Bradwell Quarry – Blackwater Aggregates – excavate an area said to be twice the size of Coggeshall to create flood storage.

The Environment Agency says the new flood storage area and dam are needed to prevent widespread flooding in Coggeshall, Kelvedon and Feering. It says it wants to prevent similar floods to the one which hit the village 19 years ago and claims there are no alternatives.

But campaigners disagree and insist the scheme must be given greater scrutiny.

A Craq spokesman said: “There are alternatives. The Environment Agency abandoned a much cheaper and far less destructive alternative that would have combined flood storage with tree planting and property level protection in favour of this solution which is out of all proportion to the problem it is addressing.”

The group is calling on the Environment Agency to halt the scheme after public drop-in sessions for residents to find out more about the plans were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members insist more consultation is needed before the planning application is made and have questioned whether saving a small number of properties from a 1 per cent chance of flooding can "justify the destruction of the landscape setting of a unique medieval town."

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “The drop-in events were planned to allow us the opportunity show members of the public how the design of the scheme has evolved following the public consultation event and online questionnaire last year.

“The information available online gives details of the minor changes we have made since last year’s consultation, which will be submitted with the planning application.

“The application is due to be submitted in summer 2020, subject to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“Once registered, the public can make comments on the design via their local parish council or to Essex County Council as part of the normal planning application consultation process.”

The spokesman said the Environment Agency will try to reschedule a public event in the future.