A councillor has criticised an ‘unforgivable attack’ on green belt land which he says will have disastrous implications for the future.

UKIP Cllr Rod Butler, recently elected for the Honey Lane ward, Waltham Abbey, today announced his support of residents in the town who are against a proposed development on the site of the Upshire car boot sale, close to Ninefields.

Developers Land Fund Limited recently met with residents in the town to discuss their ‘vision’ for the improvement of Waltham Abbey, which they claim could transform the town into a national attraction.

Despite the fact the under the Local Plan Epping Forest District Council must identify sites for 10,000 homes, Mr Butler says that development on the proposed site would be a big mistake.

He said: “I regard any loss of Green Belt land as a disaster for the future of our children. I don’t mean to be overly dramatic, but Green Belt land is just that; the important rural part of our countryside that gives us pleasure, fresh oxygen and health.

“Future generations will despise our decisions if we continue to plunder the natural heritage that we have been trusted with. There is no excuse for a builder to come along and start ripping up our fields, trees and countryside, part of what Waltham Abbey is; a rural Market Town, in exchange for a housing estate. Once Green Belt land is gone, it is lost forever.”

As well as condemning the loss of the land, Mr Butler says that the town’s infrastructure just could not support 250 more families.

He said: “I believe that I speak for a large proportion of Waltham Abbey residents in making these points and I would add that we do not have the schools, jobs, hospitals, doctors or roads to accommodate an ever increasing population.

“Please support me in keeping the countryside of Waltham Abbey safe for our children and for future generations who may live in the area.”