RESIDENTS in an Essex village are planning to join forces to oppose a skip company's expansion. Cart-Away Skips has been given permission to increase the number of truck journeys through the village of Fordham, near Colchester, where it has an industrial site.

RESIDENTS in an Essex village are planning to join forces to oppose a skip company's expansion.

Cart-Away Skips has been given permission to increase the number of truck journeys through the village of Fordham, near Colchester, where it has an industrial site.

But last night a packed village hall heard how youngsters were already being placed in danger by lorries driving too fast along narrow lanes in the area.

Chappel-based Cart-Away Skips was limited to 30 vehicle movements each week and no more than 10 in a single day.

However, the company successfully applied to Essex County Council last week to raise that number to 40 per weekday, and 20 on Saturdays.

At the public meeting last night it was decided the council's decision would be referred to the local government ombudsman in a bid to thwart the expansion.

Former Colchester borough councillor David Cannon told the meeting the company should be made to find a new base.

“Why should villagers be disrupted, roads destroyed and lives be put at risk? I hope there is something in the pipeline so we can do something about this deplorable situation we have got here in the village,” he said.

Tony Clover, Essex county councillor for the Constable ward, was on the committee which gave the go-ahead to the change, but voted against the application.

He said eight of the 12 councillors who voted were from the south of Essex, were not familiar with the local roads.

Jacqui Johnson, of Fordham, said her son had been knocked off his bike by passing skip lorries on numerous occasions.

She said: “I understand the road conditions are important but what about stopping the lorries going past the school?

“They speed - people are knocked off their bikes and people have to jump out of the way of them.”

Both Fordham Parish Council and Colchester Borough Council raised formal objections to the proposals.

A legal challenge has not been ruled out but is only likely to go-ahead if the approach to the ombudsman fails.

No one was available from Cart-Away last night but when contacted previously a spokesman declined to comment on the matter.