6:00pm Tuesday 3rd March 2009
By Max Orbach
A WILDLIFE expert fears an 80-acre wood could be transformed into a paintball complex or BMX track.
Graham Ash, chairman of the Castle Point Wildlife Group, raised his concern after it was revealed that West Wood, between Thundersley and Hadleigh, is to be sold by the Church of England.
The wood is currently leased to Castle Point Council and it was hoped the authority would buy it when it goes on sale.
But Mr Ash warned: “The wood is technically green belt, so it wouldn’t interest developers, but there have been other people interested in the past.
“My worry is someone looking to set up a paintball park or a BMX track will buy it.
“That would mean the public would lose access to it and all our hard work in reinvigorating the wildlife there would go to waste.”
Ray Howard, councillor resposnible for waste and the environment, said the council would aim to buy and maintain the wood.
He said: “If I can find some kind of funding I will endeavour to ensure it is spent on buying West Wood. It’s an extremely popular spot for walkers and we want to make sure it remains available to the public.
The Church Commission, which has owned West Wood since 1869, has decided to sell up in order to reinvest the capital into what it describes as “better- performing assets”.
Louis Henderson, spokesman for the commissioners, said: “Castle Point Council were notified we did not intend to renew its lease of West Wood when it comes to an end in September 2010.
“The commissioners have decided, in principle, to sell by placing the wood on the open market.”
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