CAMPAIGNERS are breathing a sigh of relief after the latest plans to build housing on green belt land were unanimously turned down.

Cross-party councillors joined forces to throwout proposals for 140 homes to the west of Glebelands, in Benfleet.

However, Fox Land and Property, which put in the application, is now set for a showdown with Castle Point Council at a planning inquiry in November over their previous plans to build 165 houses on the plot, first rejected back in 2012.

Glebelands, which is the last remaining green belt site in St George’s ward, is earmarked as a potential housing site in the council’s draft local plan and has seen ten planning applications since 1952.

Christine Guest, co-founder of the Glebelands and Sadlers Green Belt campaign group, said: “We’re cautiously optimistic, but we have been here before. I was very surprised all the councillors sided with us after the site was allocated in the draft local plan.

“This campaign has been going on for four years and is a huge part of our life.

“If any development went ahead it would be horrendous, but we finally feel like we’re being listened to.”

Concerns have been raised about increased traffic on roads, pressure on schools and GP practices, the strain on the sewage system, and damage to wildlife. Mayor Jackie Govier, Tory councillor for St George’s ward, has lived in the area for more than 50 years.

She said: “This ward is the most densely populated on the mainland, our services cannot cope with any additional building.

To build here is greedy. We said no before and will say no again. What right has this aggressive developer to come into our borough and dictate to us, the lawful residents, what may or may not be built?”

Brian Wood, Ukip councillor for St George’s ward, added: “The reasons for objecting to a development on this site go on and on, but at the end of the day it’s the people who live there who should have the final say.

“What they have said since 1952 is no. We don’t want the only area we have as green belt concreted over.

“Stop playing games with our green belt for profit.”