PLANNERS have rejected a controversial housing scheme after parish leaders described it as the worst application they had ever seen.

Proposals to bulldoze two homes at Sea Road, Milford on Sea, and replace them with seven new properties resulted in more than 20 letters of protest and a protest petition signed by 84 people.

The scheme was thrown out at a meeting of the district council's planning and development control committee.

Members were addressed by Milford parish councillor Brian Giles, who said the proposal was the most unacceptable application he and his fellow councillors had ever considered.

Cllr Giles said the scheme amounted to overdevelopment and would have an overbearing impact on homes in nearby Castle Close. He said: "Doesn't local opinion count for anything or do we let developers spoil all that is pleasant in our neighbourhoods?"

Councillors also heard from Milford resident Ron Dowding, who claimed that the applicant, Parkcrest Construction, was attempting to cram as many homes on to the site as possible.