JUST weeks after Thurrock Council succumbed to public pressure and scrapped plans to sell off a rural plot of land that included a bridleway, campaigners are hoping for another change of heart over it latest proposed countryside land sale in the east of the borough.

At the end of June the council pulled the plug on plans to sell off land adjacent to South Hill near Horndon on the Hill after complaints by residents, walkers and horse riders – who staged a protest trek along a bridleway which is well-used.

It was speculated that a neighbouring landowner, who has built a small estate with properties occupied by reality TV personalities, wanted to by the land to given them more privacy.

Now attention has switched to two proposed land sales not too far to the east, which includes land that is part of Langdon Hills Country Park.

Two plots at up for sale, an inverted L-shape or arable land that is adjacent to the A13 and a parcel along the side of forest which includes a horse and cycle path, which campaigners will be closed off if the sale goes through.

The two parcels of land, which sit adjacent to land in private ownership which has previously been considered or earmarked for possible housing or industrial development, have not yet appeared on the council's list of available sites, but public notices have been issued indicating they are set to be disposed of.

Public comment was invited on the proposal to sell and the decision whether or not to go through with the sale might be made at a meeting of council officers and interested parties tomorrow (Wednesday, 29 July).

Rural campaigners are desperately hoping their protest voice will sway a decision against selling.

Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight walked part of the site, including the horse and cycle path, today and posted this video report.

During his visit to the country park, he spoke to dogwalkers and locals out for a stroll in the countryside. All were against the sale, with one regular dogwalker saying: "This is a quiet and beautiful area, perfect to get away from the hustle and bustle of nearby towns and the packed roads. Even though it's close to the A13, over the years the park rangers have laid hedgerows and thickets to protect the peaceful nature of the site.

"It's a haven for wildlife and just a nice place to be. Why risk destroying it for the sake of a few quid?"

Another campaigner explained in more detail why the sites should not be sold, saying: "The first parcel of land referred to by Thurrock as Land East of One Tree Hill is below the old Vange Mineral Well.

"It is a protected site with national designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its rare flora and fauna ie three species of orchid, rare butterflies such as the grizzled skipper and the brown cader bee. This status gives it protection and places a legal duty on the council not only to protect but also enhance the SSSI. Selling will do neither of these.

"The country park also has a countryside stewardship agreement with DEFRA (previously Natural England) for these parcels of land to ensure that they are protected and managed in a proscribed way to promote and enhance conservation.

"The permissive horse cycle track was created before Thurrock became unitary and was built by the Ranger Service (then under Essex County Council) who manage the park to give riders a way of avoiding the narrow One Tree Hill Road.

"This road has a lot more vehicular traffic due to development on Dry Street which poses a greater risk to riders than before. It forms part of the 18 mile ride that transits the country park and links to the wildlife trust site and is highly used.

"The land was swapped with Hovells Farm to enable this to go ahead and they were given direct access onto the ride. This also allows the Ranger Service to access the park with tractors and 4x4s to carry out their duties.

"The field referred to as land to the north of the A13 was transferred by Thurrock councillors after a meeting with the Rangers after Thurrock became unitary in 1998 on the understanding that a Higher Level Stewardship grant was obtained from Natural England and a hedge planted alongside the A13 by the Ranger Service and Friends of Langdon Hills.

"This field is now providing a habitat for rare flora and fauna species due to the application of the management prescribed through the stewardship work undertaken by the rangers. This shows the field is being properly managed in accordance with the agreement."

Criticism has been levelled at the former Labour administration who 'nodded' the sales through without significant discussion or questioning at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 18 March. The report to the meeting can be read here. The meeting can be viewed here with the agenda item starting at 33.36 minutes.

It took less than five minutes to read and recommend approval of the sales, with the sites in east Thurrock not discussed at all.

Campaigners say that it doesn't appear that any discussions or visits were held with those who manage the site as there was no reference during the cabinet meeting to the protected status or real function of the sites at Langdon Hills as part of the country park.

Which appears to go against the one comment made in the very brief decision-making process at cabinet when members were assured by the council leader Lynn Worrall that all sites had been reviewed across services with no current or future operational need being identified.

Opponents to the sale reject the assertion by Cllr Worrall that 'needs have been identified'. And they condemn her comment: "This is sensible and proportionate as we rationalise our estate."

Just two months after the meeting the Labour cabinet members all lost their seats in the landslide delivered by Reform UK, who campaigned heavily on a 'save the green belt ticket'.

Campaigners, even with very little time before a final decision is made, have called on Reform leaders to revisit the sell-off proposal and review the value of the open land and horse riding and cycle path to the local community.