CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after Essex Ford’s proposals to build a car park on green belt land were rejected.

The company applied for planning permission to build a car park with 104 spaces on land next to its dealership, off Stadium Way, Benfleet.

A majority of Castle Point councillors delighted green belt campaigners by rejecting the proposals at a planning meeting.

Before the vote was taken, chief development control officer, Kim Fisher, provoked a dismayed response from campaigners, by claiming the land could still fulfil its “green belt function” if it was concreted over.

She said: “It would remain an open space, so it would still fulfil its green belt function.”

Several councillors argued the application should not be considered before a public consultation on the council’s Local Development Framework document, which outlines green belt development policy until 2026, is completed.

Councillor Neville Watson said: “This is starting to look like an onslaught on green belt before the consultation is completed.”

Resident Simon Hart, 46, of Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, claimed residents from his road and neighbouring Asquith Gardens had not been consulted about the application.

He said: “The council promised to improve consultation on developments. This hasn’t happened.”

Essex Ford claimed it needed extra parking space to store the rapidly growing number of cars which are brought to its workshop for repairs.