HUNDREDS of frustrated residents have signed a petition in a bid to stop thousands of homes being built on green belt land.

The South East Essex Green Party started the petition to stop the development of 2.2 miles of open space to the north of Bournes Green in Shoebury.

The petition, signed by 500 residents, follows widespread concern over plans for up to 7,254 homes between Sutton Road and Star Lane.

No plans have been submitted but a report to Southend Council earmarks the land as having “potential for strategic scale development”.

A Green Party spokesman said: “It is clear to us that this land is being teed up for vast swathes of new housing estates, and such a development would also likely be brought alongside the Rochford outer bypass which forms a core component of the Southend 2050 Vision.

“While the council has made it clear that this planning assessment is only provisional at this stage, we can’t help but agree with residents that it has made future intentions for this area crystal clear.”

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The party added: “At a time of unprecedented destruction of our natural environment, we should be protecting and rewilding our green spaces, not building over them. Covering fields in concrete is not progress.

“Hundreds of hectares of previously agricultural and wildlands, one of the few remaining havens for whole ecosystems of wildlife in our town, will be destroyed in the endless and mindless expansion ambitions of the town planners.”

A government push to make authorities build thousands of new homes has meant some have looked at green belt land to meet the demand.

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of Southend Council, said: “This was put forward by the Conservative Party in 2005.

“As councillor and on behalf of the Burges Estate Residents’ Association I am fully opposed to this major development. I am with the Green Party on this. This land should be a green lung, a country park setting with maybe just a few houses all with cycle and walkways to make a country environment on the north side of the town.

“If the central Conservative Party with the help of members push it through, they will do so against the wishes of people.”

Visit https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/oppose-the-destruction-of-green-belt-land-in-north-shoebury/