MUCH noise has been made regarding Thurrock Council’s wish to build around 32,000 new homes in the borough.

Whilst I agree that there is a need for new high quality, attractive housing I do not believe that Thurrock warrants having such a large number of new homes imposed on its current residents.

The number is excessively high for a borough the size of Thurrock and I fear that those with the power to cast decisions are simply looking for a way to erode the green belt of Thurrock.

One of the best things about our slice of Essex is that we are very close to the countryside.

This provides us with fresh air and a calming place which we can all enjoy.

Thurrock is also blessed with many pretty villages which offer a wealth of amenities, we should be promoting our countryside, we should be protecting our countryside and we should be enhancing our countryside.

What we should not be doing is seeking to ruin our countryside like our near neighbours in Brentwood and Basildon for the benefit of ridiculously trying to solve London’s housing problems.

We are blessed to have ancient Fenland around Orsett, Bulphan and West Horndon, the Mardyke Valley around North Stifford, a Thameside Park at Mucking, picturesque farmers fields surrounding Ockendon and much fertile farmland around Chadwell, East Tilbury and a beautiful hilltop village in Horndon-onthe-Hill.

It’s about time that someone stuck up for our villages from Aveley to Fobbing, West Tilbury to Bulphan.

They are all assets and should be protected at all costs.

There is more to Thurrock than Lakeside, ports and dirty industry. Let’s hope Thurrock Council realises that.

L BERNARD

Randall Drive

Orsett Village