THE Salvation Army has agreed its farmland next to Hadleigh Castle Country Park can be used for the Olympics.
Essex County Council and the Salvation Army jointly own the site and have been in discussions for the past week about using the park.
The Salvation Army is fiercely protective of its land, but sources have told the Echo it has come to an agreement with the council and the plans look likely to go ahead.
The final decision still lies with the London organising committee of the Olympic Games and the International Cycling Union, who must decide whether the park is suitable to challenge the world's top mountain bikers.
Riders will complete five to seven laps around a course, which can range from 6km to 9km.
But Castle Point MP Bob Spink believes holding the competition at the park will ruin it. He said: "It may benefit the economy for a month or two but it would destroy what is a beautiful country park area.
"It will leave a negative long term legacy for Castle Point and local residents I have spoken to are deeply upset by this."
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