A CAR park at a popular beauty spot has started to be dug up after it was controversially closed.
The Ministry of Defence closed the car park at Bounstead Road, Colchester, in March, saying said the move was in the interest of safety and would prevent anti-social activity.
The car park gave access to Friday Woods but the MoD wants to return it to heathland.
It has been “temporarily” closed by the MoD since late 2017.
Bosses said the permanent closure followed prolonged antisocial behaviour including homemade fireworks, flytipping and an arson attack on a car as well as vandalism.
Campaigners called for access to be reinstated with claims it was unsafe to unload dogs and small children on the side of nearby roads. A petition to re-open the car park also gathered hundreds of signatures.
An MoD spokesman said: “The Royal Engineers have started work to remove the Bounstead Road car park.
“The work is set to be completed shortly and we are working with Natural England to return the car park area to heathland.”
Legal public access to Friday Woods will still be allowed.
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