RESIDENTS are urging councillors to block costly plans to widen two country lanes for access to the Olympic mountain biking venue at Hadleigh Farm.

Members of Castle Point Council’s development control committee are due to vote on the application for the course tomorrow night.

It includes proposals to widen the bottom of Chapel Lane and Castle Lane to improve access, which residents claim will cost £250,000 and ruin the area’s rural character. They say it’s unnecessary for an event lasting just two days.

Castle Lane will be used for spectators who will be transported in by shuttle buses from Leigh station.

Chapel Lane will provide access for the teams and their support vehicles, as well as media, catering and other services during the 2012 event.

There are expected to be about 50 competitors in the men’s event on Saturday, August 11 and 30 for the women’s event on the following Sunday.

In a letter to the council objecting to the proposals, Chapel Lane resident Nigel Southwood said: “Are you really proposing to commit to the considerable expense of widening the lane for a maximum of one round trip per vehicle by about 80 vehicles?

“Please do not waste taxpayers’ money on this completely unnecessary project.”

Jacky Loh, of Homestead Way, believes plans to widen both Chapel Lane and Castle Lane are a waste of money.

She said: “We are very lucky to have two rural lanes so close to Hadleigh town centre. These precious approaches to the country park will be destroyed forever, along with the existing hedges, trees and wildlife habitats in exchange for something which offers no long-term benefit to local residents.”

Essex County Council is hoping to leave part of the course in place to be used by mountain bikers as a permanent legacy of the Olympics.

This will be the subject of a separate planning application, but some residents have already raised concerns.

Lisa Dukes, of London Road, Hadleigh, claims she has been knocked over by cyclists while walking in the park in recent months. She said: “It is becoming dangerous to walk around this park because people are using it as a racing area.”