RESIDENTS are furious about Basildon Council plans to build homes on a popular local playing field.

People living in Kent View Road, Vange, have collected 500 signatures in two days, protesting at council plans to sell the field near their homes.

The council is believed to be selling the land to developers to raise cash for other projects.

It posted a notice earlier this month stating its intention to dispose of the land, giving objectors until Thursday to log their opposition.

Meanwhile, Kent View Pre-school, which is based in a building on the field, is being forced out, after being told its lease would not be renewed.

Neil Hart, who has lived in Kent View Road for 37 years, fears the building work will cause chaos in the surrounding streets.

He said: “The council’s plans show the entire location is cross-hatched in red.

“It’s obvious it will be sold off to a private developer who will try to get the maximum number of homes he can.

“Even on a normal day, you have to weave in and out of traffic.We have to park carefully on one side of the road, just to let the dustcarts through, so you can imagine the problems we will have when there are hundreds of construction vehicles down there.

“The plans just aren’t feasible. It’s a ridiculous idea.”

Joyce Backham, 74, has lived in Kent View Road with her husband, Alan, 78, since her house was built 47 years ago.

She only found out about the plans on Friday.

Mrs Backham said: “I’m absolutely disgusted with the council.

“It has taken a back-door, clandestine approach to this.”

She added opposition to the plans had united the community, with many residents writing to the council, Basildon and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe, and others, to complain.

COUNCIL - ISSUE HAS YET TO BE DECIDED THE future of the playing field has yet to be decided, Basildon Council insists.

Phil Turner, councillor responsible for resources, said the land’s future use would only be agreed after consultations with the public.

The council agreed in principle to dispose of the land last June as one of a number of sites it might sell to fund the large sporting village development in Gloucester Park, Basildon.

Mr Turner said: “Part of the process is to consult for planning purposes.

“This means any future use can be governed through the planning process.

“An appropriation notice was displayed from May 27, stating representations should be made to the council by June 17. Following this, all comments will be taken intoaccount.”

Mr Turner said all the sites earmarked for possible sale had been chosen because officials felt they did not represent good value to residents.

He added: “Disposal of the Kent View Road site could help to improve other open space in the Vange area which is currently of poor quality, because of security, access and the quality of play equipment.”