Fresh hope to save Middlewick Ranges from development

Middlewick Ranges, which is owned by the Ministry of Defence, is expected to be sold for development next year when firing operations move to Fingringhoe.

However, a Freedom of Information request has revealed no action has been taken yet to get the sale in motion.

Furthermore, the MoD has refused to say when the firing ranges will shut, claiming it is not in the public interest to disclose such information.

Plans - 1,000 homes are planned for Middlewick, which is a popular beauty spot

The proposed sale, in addition to the 1,000 homes which could be built on the site, has been met with strong opposition from campaigners.

Activists have since, however, been given a glimmer of hope after Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to not build homes on green fields.

Read more:

• Reader letter: The Wick should be gifted to town for use as a park
• Council is accused of letting down residents with Middlewick housing plans

The Freedom of Information requests, submitted by Colchester’s High Steward, Sir Bob Russell, will now offer further hope for campaigners.

Sir Bob said: “Those of us who want to save Middlewick must prevail upon Colchester councillors and the MP to intervene to stop the loss of Middlewick. That is what residents want them to do.

Sir Bob

“The fact the MoD refuses to say when the firing ranges will shut, and marketing of Middlewick for development has not happened, indeed surveyors have not yet been appointed, provides our elected representatives with the opportunity to save this special area of open space.”

Five Freedom of Information questions were made by Sir Bob, but the Defence Infrastructure Organisation at the MoD refused to answer three of them on the grounds of it not being in the public interest to do so.

However, it did reveal the first “element of construction” to reconfigure the firing ranges at Fingringhoe will begin next week.

It hints steps have been made behind the scenes to sell the Middlewick site, yet nothing has been confirmed.

Last week, Labour councillors delivered a letter to Colchester MP Will Quince over the site’s future.

Mr Quince, who says he has always fought against the Middlewick Ranges proposals, was urged to take action and halt the sale of the site. It called on the MP to seek an “urgent meeting” with the Prime Minister.

Mr Quince has spoken repeatedly against the development and has also raised concerns over whether there is sufficient infrastructure to support 1,000 more homes in the area.