AN MP has joined the fight to protect a huge piece of farmland in Hadleigh from being developed into hundreds of new homes.

David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, has announced he will do all he can to oppose any homes plans on the site after meeting Leigh residents.

Hadleigh and Leigh residents have united in huge numbers over the past weeks after it was revealed the Salvation Army put forward a huge swathe of farmland for development in Castle Point’s draft local plan.

When the land, close to Hadleigh Country Park was initially included in a consultation, Dame Rebecca Harris, Conservative MP for Castle Point, strongly opposed the development, stating it would overload roads and infrastructure as well as impact the town’s “beautiful landscape.”

Yesterday, Mr Burton-Sampson joined the fight after meeting both residents and the Salvation Army.

In a statement, he said: “I cannot support the plans for development on this site as it currently stands.

“I will be objecting on the inappropriateness of using this section of green belt for development because the land here forms a visual and functional purpose in separating the two areas of Leigh and Hadleigh.

“The release of this area of the green belt is likely to significantly erode its purpose and any additional housing could affect infrastructure within our constituency, especially relating to transport and roads.

“I will be writing to Castle Point Council and The Salvation Army to formally inform them of my position.”

More than 7,000 people have signed a petition while hundreds of homes in Hadleigh and parts of Leigh are now displaying bright red posters stating ‘Say No! Save Hadleigh Farmland’.

A spokesman for Leigh Residents Group, formed to fight against the plans, said: “Following our meeting, with David Burton-Sampson, and his promises to speak to the Salvation Army, we are absolutely delighted that he has now reached a conclusion and will object these plans.

“He previously said he would object if it got to the next round of the local plan, but that wasn’t good enough for us. We wanted him to object to it now, like others have done, including Rebecca Harris.

“So, I am delighted he has listened to our concerns, understands how important this is, and will object at an earlier stage.”