Thank you to the residents who wrote to me with concerns over the planned sale of a green field between the railway line and the actual Benfleet Playing Fields Park that is being advertised as a development opportunity.

Needless to say I would be opposed to housing development on that site, but it is unlikely it would actually happen. It is true that in the Council’s emerging local plan there are some documents that  highlight that field and the park as ‘Previously Developed Land’ as opposed to Green Belt or even potential Grey Belt land. However, in reality there are several other planning issues that would make housing development on that site uneconomical, not least the fact it is currently part of a designated flood plain that helps protect the rest of Benfleet!

I believe this land is actually owned by Network Rail and was part of planned railway sidings from many many decades ago. Residents use the land as part of the playing fields and I have written to the Leader of Castle Point Borough Council suggesting the Council look at purchasing the site to formally make it part of the park.

That said, I would not be opposed to another related use that would complement the park like a community garden.