PART of a public park has been put on the market for £300,000, after Castle Point Council failed to buy it for just £18,000.

Council bosses missed their chance to purchase the south-eastern corner of South Benfleet playing fields, in Ferry Road, three years ago.

It has since leased the land back from current owners AA Care Homes Limited for £500 a year.

The site is about 1,000 sq ft and was originally owned by British Rail, which was considering building a new platform for Benfleet station.

The land is being advertised for sale, with potential for a sports hall and club facilities, on website rightmove.co.uk Croydon-based property developers AA Care Homes want in the region of £300,000.

Brian Wilson, Labour councillor for St Mary’s Ward, has slammed the council for not buying the site when it had the chance. He said: “The council knew all about it. It discussed the matter and decided it wasn’t going to put a bid in for the land. It was a big mistake.”

Castle Point Council spokeswoman Carol Leach said the issue would be reported to councillors, so they could make a decision on what action to take.

But Andrew Roby-Smith, the council’s corporate land officer, suggested the plot has limited development potential anyway.

He said: “There is no vehicle access, other than across the playing fields. Other uses and permissions are strictly limited, subject to restraints concerning access on to and off the site. The sum paid by the purchaser three years ago was more than the council was willing to pay.”