The possibility of a community green in Feering has finally been dashed after a landowner's wishes to obtain planning permission for a site in Kelvedon were refused.

Great Leighs willow merchant J S Wright wanted the village envelope in Kelvedon extended in order for it to obtain planning permission for a half-acre site it owns in Brockwell Lane.

As part of negotiations with planners at Braintree Council it offered to hand over a four-and-a-half acre stretch of land it owns by the river in Feering.

Two years ago Feering Council approached the company to buy the land - only accessible to fishermen - for a new millennium green.

Richard Hockey, land agent for the company, said: "The council offered us £15,000 for the land two years ago but if our proposals had been agreed they could now have got it for free."

Mr Hockey said the proposed development in Brockwell Lane consisted of two chalet houses, matching existing buildings in the area.

He added: "Now both pieces of land will just sit there and stagnate."

A spokesperson for the local planning department of Braintree Council said planning permission was unlikely to be granted as the land was by the river and any development would restrict views of the countryside.

Lorraine Allen, clerk to Feering Council, said: "We wanted to buy the land for a millennium green. We would like the land for the community but the decision really lies with Braintree Council."

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