PLANS for a new St Luke’s Hospice and 50 homes on green belt land outside Langdon Hills have met a tidal wave of objections.

The charity, which operates a hospice at Nethermayne, Basildon, and private developer Countryside, have submitted joint plans for a new six-bed hospice and 50 “executive” homes at Malgraves Farm, off Lower Dunton Road.

But public bodies, civic societies and residents have inundated Thurrock Council with objections ahead of a decision on the scheme expected this month.

A whopping 800 people have already signed a petition calling for the hospice to be built elsewhere and the local authority has received 52 letters opposing the plans, citing the unjustified loss of farmland, the strain on infrastructure and remote location.

Claire Beecham, joint-chairman of Protect Lower Dunton Road action group, which opposes the plans, said: “I strongly object to building an additional 50 houses and the strategy of using a hospice as leverage to support the application.

“Lower Dunton Road is often impassable in the winter and is not an easy place to reach.

“As someone who works in the community, involved in palliative care, I know it does not serve the majority of Thurrock residents’ needs.”

Havens Hospices met with stiff opposition when it tried to build on green belt land, in Belton Hills, Leigh, leading to the loss of support from former fundraisers.

It eventually dropped its application.

Basildon Council has objected, saying the site has never been earmarked for housing and residents would use roads, schools, healthcare and other services in Basildon.

Thurrock Council’s highways department has objected due to the lack of public transport, cycle routes and pavements for pedestrians and fears it would create more traffic on an already busy, narrow country road.

The road has no bus route and more than 400 vehicles an hour use it at peak times.

The authority’s housing department has also raised concerns about the homes being aimed at the “executive home owner”, when it needs 370 affordable homes a year to deal with the 5,044 people on its housing waiting list.

The owner of Great Malgraves Farm, also in Lower Dunton Road, Thurrock Angling Club, which has more than 500 members and whose fishing lake boarders the site, and Horndon on the Hill Society have also objected.

Thurrock Council has received 16 letters of support.

'IT'S OUR ONLY CHANCE TO OFFER A BETTER SERVICE'

ST Luke’s Hospice has said the site is the best available and a private developer is needed to fund the scheme.

The charity says the new facility needs to be near its existing hospice and Basildon Hospital, and it cannot fund the hospice alone.

Chief executive Eileen Marshall said: “This particular development was considered to be ideal. It is desirable for the hospice to be in tranquil surroundings.

"The green belt status of surrounding land, both within and on the boundary of the development, will provide on-going tranquillity in future years.

“Its proximity to Basildon Hospital will help us to support patients in a seamless way.

“We work very closely with NHS colleagues and organisations based at the hospital, patient transfers between us are a common occurrence as is the transfer of clinical commodities such as blood.

“The proposed hospice being close to our current site will enable us to keep costs down as we will be able to share some resources, releasing more of our income to spend on patient care as well as being able to run both sites with the same unified management approach which will ensure our high standards of care are continued.

“Raising charitable income in this economic climate is difficult, so we were mindful when considering our expansion plans, how it could be funded.

“We feel this development is a rare opportunity that benefits local people, making sure the very care best is offered to people in our community, especially those with life-limiting illness.’’

For more information visit www.malgravesfarm.co.uk