NETWORK Rail seem set to press ahead with their plans to fell trees alongside the railway line adjoining the Homesteads estate in Corringham.

Residents protesting against the plans have been supported by local MP Angela Smith and councillor Pauline Corringham, but the latest correspondence to residents from the track operator suggests their comments have fallen on deaf ears.

Mrs Smith has revealed that residents have now been informed that the work will go ahead.

In a letter to 'residents and neighbours' Network Rail's regional community relations manager Nicholas Gray says the work is scheduled to go ahead and contractors have been instructed to complete the work by July 31.

He says: "This work is necessary in order to prevent lineside vegetation from encroaching the track and interfereing with signal equipment.

"Any trees identified as being problematic due to high leaf fall, disease or instability will also be removed."

Mrs Smith said: "This has come as a shock to local residents as they were expecting the chance to delay the removal of trees pending discussions with Network Rail until the autumn."

She added she will be making urgent representations to Network Rail, calling on it to "reconsider its plans to remove the trees and find a way to preserve them that also satisfies any lineside safety considerations it may have."