A COUNTRY park linking beaches and fields to create a green trail around Shoebury is among ambitious ideas for the area announced by a new coastal community team.

A wishlist of schemes has been put together by the group and it will submit its plans in January to try to land a share of £90million the Government has set aside for coastal projects.

The team includes residents’ associations, schools and councillors.

One idea put forward at a meeting was to create a green trail encouraging visitors to the area to explore a Shoebury Country Park comprising Gunners Park, East Beach and Shoebury Common.

Giles Tofield, a social entrepreneur who leads the team, said the projects were still at the idea stage, but the aim was to promote Shoebury as a destination for people from across Essex and beyond.

He said: “We are looking at projects that could realistically be achieved and we believe there are all sorts of things that could happen in Shoebury to improve it as a visitor destination and also as a place to live.”

Other ideas include creating a Shoebury Heritage Centre as a museum and archive centre which will include military history as well as educational facilities and perhaps a cafe.

There will also be links with cycling and walking routes across the wildlife area.

There are plans to develop Shoebury Common North for use by residents and schools, to include car boot sales, a children’s play area, sand dunes, classic car rallies, charity events, school sports days, as well as a general play area for children, adults and visitors.

The quick-fire gun and battery store could be refurbished as a lookout or an extension to the heritage centre.

It was also suggested Gunners Park could be bought from the developer and converted into a wildlife park, running centre and dog walking area, as well as creating a holding lake in the event of flooding.

There could also be improvements to the facilities at East Beach, including a new children’s play area.