A RESIDENT has said Harwich will struggle to support the families of 1,358 new homes in the town.

Tendring Council has revealed the sites best suited for extra housing as part of the 12,000 more homes needed in the district within the next 20 years.

Driving instructor Dave Kirkman, of Eves Court, Dovercourt, said: “I went to a meeting about a year ago about the Local Plan and a lot of people were opposed.

“One person asked how many empty properties we have and were told about 1,000.

“Why do we need all these new homes when we have all these empty ones?

“What concerns me is there aren’t any jobs.

“We will be putting more people on the A120 and that road is in a terrible state.

“It’s far too many houses for this area."