FURIOUS Leigh residents and councillors are preparing to make their voices heard as they ramp up opposition to proposals to potentially build homes on Salvation Army land.

Leigh Town Council will meet tonight to discuss the inclusion of a vast swath of farmland next to Hadleigh Country Park in a Castle Point Council consultation over potential local plan sites and dozens of residents are set to attend.

The Salvation Army believes the land could be used to help provide “much needed housing” as well as “new and improved” community spaces.

Hadleigh residents have already began campaigning against the proposals and now Leigh residents are preparing to make a stand at tonight’s meeting over the implications on traffic and infrastructure.

A spokesman for campaigning residents in Tattersall Gardens said: “We are anticipating a large local turn-out at the meeting.

“We object to this ‘open land’ which provides a break between Hadleigh and Leigh - Castle Point and Southend - together with open views of the Thames Estuary and the protected Hadleigh Castle. There is basically no access available in roads and this would mean a major access being formed on the extremely busy A13. Local councillors in Leigh have noted their objections which is to be discussed at the meeting.”

Southend councillors responsible for West Leigh have also voiced their concerns over the plans, and have sent out leaflets to residents discussing their “fight to protect Salvation Army fields”.

Councillor Lesley Salter, said: “We have all been caught out by this and now need to come together and show the strength of our community.

“I never expected to see plans for this site in my lifetime and will work diligently with Conservative colleagues to win a voice for Leigh. Protecting local greenbelt, limiting urban sprawl and properly assessing pressures on local infrastructure like healthcare services is essential to making Leigh a sustainable and wonderful place to live and build a family.”

Councillor Owen Cartey echoed the words of Ms Salter and added: “It is easy to dismiss smaller starter plans on this land closer to Hadleigh, but as soon as a precedent is set for development on the Salvation Army land, our precious greenbelt will be eroded.” bit by bit.”