BARRIERS have been placed around trees destined to be felled to make way for 70 new homes - forcing the cancellation of a planned protest picnic.

Campaigners hoping to protect 62 trees on the former Cantel Medical Ltd site in Campfield Road, Shoebury, have now axed tomorrow's event after developer Taylor Wimpey put up a metal fence around the site.

The council ignored its own Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) to approve the scheme which will see the trees make way for a three-storey block of 12 flats and 58 houses.

While the event was cancelled, a “Tree and Wildlife Protector team” was expected to visit the remaining common land on Saturday.

Campaigner Tim Fransen said: “It is with deep sadness that we have been forced to cancel the much-anticipated picnic because Taylor Wimpey has decided to fence off a significant portion of the green space we have enjoyed for years, rendering it inaccessible.

“Taylor Wimpey has stated that the fencing has been erected purely to mark Taylor Wimpey’s ownership boundary and to secure the site – a mean-spirited act.

“This decision has left us without a suitable area to safely host the expected number of attendees and the wonderful activities we had planned.”

Mr Fransen added: “We remain hopeful that together, we can bring attention to these critical issues and work towards preserving the natural world for our children.”

"The TPOs were placed on the trees following a petition which attracted more than 170 signatures. Trees include mature cedars, maples, oaks and sycamores but the orders were ignored when planning permission was granted for the development last month.”

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We can confirm that fencing has been installed at our Campfield Road site in order to define Taylor Wimpey’s ownership boundary.

“There are no plans to fell any trees in the immediate future and a number of surveys are currently taking place on the site, including archaeology studies, further site investigations and a bat survey.”

Demolition of some of the existing buildings on the site is due to start in the autumn.

A full landscape plan was submitted to Southend Council as part of Taylor Wimpey’s reserved matters planning application.