RESIDENTS campaigning to save a community green are jubilant after councillors rejected an application to build flats there.

Rochford District Councillors threw out the council’s own application for planning permission for a two-storey building containing two flats on open green space in Hambro Close, Rayleigh.

Residents argued covenants on the land should protect it as a place for them to enjoy as a community green space.

This week, councillors agreed with residents after Jill Waight, the Green Party’s candidate for Trinity ward and community spokeswoman, reminded councillors that residents had rights of access to the green.

Conservative Trinity ward councillor Cheryl Roe said whilst plan was sound, there were “too many legal issues outstanding around the application that had not been resolved” and it should have been withdrawn.

The committee listened to statements opposing the application from Independent Mike Wilkinson and the Green Party’s Michael Hoy.

Mr Wilkinson said the application was a financially based decision by the officers of the council to sell off the land with planning permission.

He added: “If Rochford Council wanted to do the right thing by the residents of Hambro Close – they would withdraw this application and leave the open space as it is.

“It is a place which enhances the area of the close, the life and wellbeing of the close and its residents.”

Mr Hoy said the application should be refused on the grounds that it did not meet planning policy in that “no building should be approved on local green community spaces.”

Minutes of the development committee meeting revealed that the open space should be protected for the benefit of the nearby community.

The minutes said: “Mindful of officers’ recommendation to approve the application, members nevertheless considered that the application should be refused on the basis that it would result in the loss of valuable open amenity space to neighbouring properties.”

The Committee voted 7-2 against and the application and it was thrown out.