A CAMPAIGN has been launched to secure the future of a Great Wakering Common.

More than 250 residents signed a petition in just 15 hours to keep the common as a place for families to enjoy - amid fears it may fall into the hands of developers.

The campaign has been launched after the council decided to consider not renewing the lease, which ends in October.

The petition was started by resident Jo McPherson.

She said: “It is an amenity for the people, I use it and lots of residents and visitors also use it. “I was quite shocked when I found out about the proposal, if it wasn’t available for the public, it would be a big loss and then what? What will it mean if we won’t be able to use it? Would it mean it wasn’t maintained anymore?”

Great Wakering Common is a long stretch of common land by St. Nicholas Church, managed by Great Wakering Parish Council.

Those who signed the petition, expressed concerns in losing a piece of their heritage. Ryan Wyatt, who also lives in Great Wakering, said: “This is a small village with charming character with the brickworks already being turned into houses I can see the village losing all desirability and becoming an extension to Shoebury. The common is used daily by residents and houses a lot of established wildlife - why ruin it?”

The Common is registered common land and has Public Rights of Way crossing it despite being in the ownership of Bentall’s farms. 

If the council did not renew the lease, it would stay as a public right of way.

The council has said that much of the cost falls on parishioners, with potential costs including clean up after flytipping, stating that it had been difficult to find reasonable quotes for grass cutting and tree works and potential costs of evicting travellers and possible clear up of the site afterwards. The motion will be discussed by Great Wakering Parish Council tonight from 7pm at the council offices, Little Wakering Hall Lane. View the petition at change.org