CAMPAIGNERS who have fought for 40 years to stop house building on Canvey’s green belt insist the island will maintain its “united front”.

Persimmon Homes wants to build 275 homes on fields by the Dutch Village estate, off Limburg Road.

Ray Howard, councillor for Canvey West, and George Whatley, a resident in Limburg Road, both gave evidence to a public inquiry into proposed development on the land in 1975.

Castle Point Council has received 230 objections to the latest application, with local MP Rebecca Harris leading calls to throw out the plans.

Despite long-standing opposition to development from Canvey residents and councillors, Mr Howard fears a Government inspector may side with developers if the application goes to appeal.

Castle Point’s local plan, which is being developed, will need to identify suitable sites to meet the Government target of 4,000 new homes in the borough by 2031.

Despite being on green belt land, sites such as the Dutch Village, could be labelled as potential development areas.

Mr Howard said: “Under the local plan process, anybody who owns land has the right to apply.

“I know some of the residents think we shouldn’t even consider it, but the council is obliged to do it.

“Previously, we have put a united front up against these applications and we will be there again to be counted if it goes to appeal again.”

Mr Whatley, 74, believes it is vital developer contributions for major developments are retained on Canvey, claiming previous money has been spent elsewhere.

He said: “Historically, this section 106 money hasn’t been put back into the area, which means we now have to spend £42million on Canvey surface water drainage.

It has been a systematic issue and the attitude in the past has been ‘build, build and be damned’.”

If the application is approved, Essex County Council has called on Persimmon to pay £1million to cover extra school places which will be needed.

Castle Point Council has yet to set a date for the application to be decided.