AN MP has met with campaigners fighting to protect a huge swathe of farmland from development as their petition hits 5,000 signatures.

Dame Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point, joined campaigners from the Save Hadleigh Farmland group at the site over the weekend to mark the petition hitting the milestone.

The group was formed in response to the Salvation Army putting forward the site as a potential site for housing in Castle Point Council's local plan.

Furious residents have demanded the land is protected and set up a petition urging Castle Point Council to remove the site from the local plan consultation and any future local plan.

Ms Harris said: “I have met with members of the Save Hadleigh Farmland by the site itself to the south of Hadleigh.

“This site, along with many other undeveloped sites in our local Green Belt, that I and many others have fought for years to defend, is truly valued by local residents.

“It also helps form part of the semi-rural character of large parts of Castle Point.

“Like many other Green Belt sites local residents’ treasure, it should absolutely be safeguarded against inappropriate development.”

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

Hadleigh resident and a member of the group, Martin England, said “We had a very productive meeting and discussion with our MP Dame Rebecca Harris.

“It was great to hear her views and advice on the Salvation Army Farmland site, as identified on the Council’s local plan consultation.

“Our MP’s knowledge on protecting the Greenbelt was extremely helpful, hearing her views and listening to our concerns, and has now given our group more direction and focus.

“This historic site is the original home of the Salvation Army’s Hadleigh Colony, set up in 1891 as part of William Booth’s social reform project, and building houses on this site is not part of their mission.

“I hope they listen to the local community who have supported the Salvation Army for over 130 years.

“Our SHF Campaign Group now has a huge membership, a petition of more than 5000 signatures, and we will be doing all we can to ensure the homes never get built, which will destroy the beautiful and special character of Hadleigh”