Hadleigh Farmland March - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Hadleigh Farmland March – COMMITTED campaigners marched on Castle Point Council offices as part of their efforts to ensure much-loved and historic farmland is saved from development.

Hadleigh Farmland March - COMMITTED campaigners marched on Castle Point Council offices as part of their efforts to ensure much-loved and historic farmland is saved from development.

COMMITTED campaigners marched on Castle Point Council offices as part of their efforts to ensure much-loved and historic farmland is saved from development.

Over 80 residents walked to the Bourgh offices on Friday, November 22, to present the council with their 8,000-strong petition, which fights to protect historic Salvation Army farmland for posterity.

A swathe of Salvation Army greenbelt has been earmarked for inclusion in Castle Point’s draft local plan, but as yet, there is no confirmation that it will be taken to the next round of the Local Plan process.

The proposals have sparked wide-spread outrage, with protesters forming the Save Hadleigh Farmland Group (SHF) and MPs including David Burton-Sampson for West Southend and Leigh, and the constituency’s previous MP Anna Firth, both putting their names to the Campaign.

Commenting on the recent march, Martin England, head of the SHF Group, said: “We had 8517 signatures on our petition and probably the biggest petition against a Greenbelt site in Castle Point history, handed in to Castle Point Council.

“This march was about the solidarity of the residents from Hadleigh and Leigh, all united together against the development of the Salvation Army Farmland. It can’t be ignored by our councillors, planning officers or the Salvation Army.”

The land earmarked for development is part of the Salvation Army farmland, in which the historic medieval Hadleigh Castle is situated.

Famed for its rolling pasture and views out to the estuary, this area was originally bought by Victorian philanthropist General William Booth, in 1891 who established the Hadleigh Colony there.

Hadleigh Farm was established as a ground-breaking initiative to tackle poverty and unemployment in the late Victorian era, positioning Booth as a trailblazer in the early 20th-century movement of people seeking improved lives east of London.

This rural haven represents a great deal for residents and campaigners, as Martin England explains: “There are so many reasons to not build on this site, greenbelt, farmland, extra traffic onto the already busy London Road, lack of road access, more pollution, a lack of schools and doctors, loss of wildlife, and it’s an archaeological site. Urban sprawl will destroy the special character of Hadleigh.

“This historic site borders on the Heritage England site for Hadleigh Castle, connects to the 387-acre Hadleigh Country Park, overlooking the Thames Estuary, which also hosted the 2012 Olympic Mountain Bike races. Once this beautiful area is gone, it is gone forever.

Mr England and the campaigners have vowed to “never stop” until the land is protected, warning that they “have only just started.”

A Salvation Army spokesperson responded: “We understand the level of concern especially as so much misinformation is circulating locally.

“We would like to reassure everyone that no decisions have been made about any development. The Salvation Army responded to the ‘call for sites’ from Castle Point Borough Council as part of their Local Plan consultation, which is currently under review. “

They added: “We would also like to take this opportunity to stress that our draft proposals ensure that the majority of the land would remain as open green spaces.”

In response to SHF’s petition, Warren Gibson, deputy leader for Castle Point Council, said: “When we set out to prepare the plan, the administration was clear that we wanted a plan that provides homes to meet local needs, involved local people, prioritises brown field sites and protects the green belt. That remains the case.

He added: “The Council will publish the draft plan in early 2025, and local residents will be asked to make formal comments on the plan at that time.”

Picture: Marchers delivering the petition. Pic Martin England

REPORT BY SOPHIE SLEIGH-JOHNSON

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