WATCH: 'This could kill Essington': 500 furious villagers in fight against DX Freight

DX Freight - formerly Nightfreight - wants to relocate its two Willenhall bases and 240 staff to a 43-acre site in Hobnock Road.

But Essington villagers are fiercely opposed to the plans and 500 of them packed into the council house for a fiery meeting with DX bosses on Thursday night. It was the second public meeting in as many weeks and came just a day after a large protest was held at the proposed site.

And the placards were out in force again for the latest meeting, boldly displaying the words 'Essington says no to DX Freight super hub'.

Resident Richard Lee told the meeting and DX managers: "This is a small village and you are not welcome here.

"The arrival of this centre will be dangerous to the village. There are cars parked all the way down Hobnock Road trying to walk up to the schools to walk their children. I don't think you understand the area at all. Back down, this is the wrong place for you.

"There are plenty other areas where businesses like yourselves can go, I and a lot of people here don't think this is it."

A total of 600 feedback forms were printed prior to the start of the four-hour meeting and the vast majority were filled in with angry comments by the time the session finally came to a close. Concerns include extra traffic and noise and the safety of pupils at nearby St John's Primary School.

Susan Newell-Pedley said: "I'm a member of Essington Methodist Church and I feel these plans will completely ruin the church and the community spirit here. How will people get to the other side of the village if these extra lorries are going to create more traffic in the village?"

Susan's father Alfred added: "These plans are diabolical. This could kill the village."

However, DX Freight said its plans for a head office, distribution space and ancillary buildings will bring new life to an area that has not been used for decades. It also said the move would create 400 new jobs.

Chief strategy and marketing officer Stuart Godman said: "These plans have been long in the making and have been carefully considered.

"The reason why we have chosen this site is because it is big enough for us to accomplish everything we want to do on our land and with the jobs we want to provide.

"It's quite clear how residents feel with the traffic issues and we will take those matters on board. We are grateful for the attendance of the residents and will be taking on board every single piece of input received over the course of the day."

If given the nod, the DX operations currently running at Willenhall's Crestwood House in Birches Rise and Ashmore Lake Way would both move to Hobnock Road.

James Harper from Bursnips Road, Essington, said: "This development will change the face of Essington forever. There are so many people worried about the traffic and I have to agree with them. It is bad enough here anyway. We've had a couple of people killed in road accidents in recent years.

"I can see why the DX Group want to move and they have put strong reasons forward but the residents' concerns are very strong too."

South Staffordshire Council has identified the site as employment land but it also sits in the green belt and has been vacant for more than 30 years.

Essington Parish councillor David Clifft, who organised the meeting, said he expected more meetings and protests to take place in the coming weeks.

"We are listening loud and clear to what the residents are saying," he said.

"We've got 5,500 people who live in Essington and this application has to be the one that has pulled the crowds out, big style.

"We've held discussions and it looks like its going to come to planning sometime in November. It's such a big application maybe it needs a public inquiry."