PLANS have been revealed to try and revive a popular outdoor motorsport site.

Action Park, at Bonville Farm, Wickford, was forced to shut after Basildon Council issued an enforcement notice in May 2015 against the park which includes an army assault course, motocross tracks, archery, quad bikes, 4x4 driving, rally buggies, clay pigeon shooting and paintball.

The site had been operating on green belt land without planning permission for seven years prior to its closure.

Support swelled and an online petition asking the authority to save Action Park has been signed by 2,800 people.

It prompted owner Philip McCaul to reveal he was in discussions with the council and submitted a new planning application which was rejected by Basildon councillors in November 2015 owing to concerns over noise and pollution.

However, Marie Martin, who manages the park, says that fresh plans have been fired off to Basildon Council in the hope to get it open again after Action Park went back to the drawing board.

She said: “We have put a lot of thought in to the plans, and particularly how to deal with the noise issues.

“When it went to the planning meeting, it was five votes for and five against, and we lost out because of the chairman’s vote. We have listened to what they had to say and have invested a lot of money into straw bales to sound proof the park.”

It comes as south Essex faces continual problems with riders illegally taking to pavements and parks.

Martin Tucker, town mayor of Canvey, says the island has become a hot spot for the riders, and says he welcomes plans to get Action Park up and running again.

He said: “On ground of safety alone, it’s a great idea. It protects the safety of the riders themselves and other people too.

“Realistically I couldn’t see anywhere we could a facility on Canvey, but there has to be somewhere in south Essex for people to go where it is properly managed and maintained.

“I am happy to support it.”