Controversial plans to build a second commuter car park next to a village station will be considered at a council meeting tomorrow.

Transport for London (TfL) is due to discuss its proposal for an 80-vehicle car park in Theydon Bois on land directly east of the station with Epping Forest district councillors. 

The site, which is on green belt land, was an allotment in the 1960s is owned by TfL and currently used as a storage area.

TfL has submitted a prior-approval planning application relating to certain aspects of the project, but not the project as a whole.

Without a full planning application, the council’s committee can only consider the issues in the application.

The site, which will be accessed via Station Hill if plans go ahead, already has pedestrian access via a footbridge over the railway line into the village, on the western side of the track.

Under the proposals a kerb would need to be removed for access and 10m high floodlights installed.

Theydon Bois, like many areas in Epping Forest has experienced problems with commuter parking in residential roads around the station for a number of years.

However, many feel the current proposal is not the right solution.

A consultation found there is widespread opposition to the proposal due to its position on green belt land.

Residents’ association Theydon Bois Action Group objected on the grounds it is unsuitable due to its design as an "urban feature".

Concerns over the number of spaces and light and noise pollution were also highlighted.

Theydon Bois and District Rural Preservation Society also opposes the plan, as does the parish council.

Darren Johnson, Green Party Member for the London Assembly, has joined the parish council in calling on TfL to put in a full application.

Essex County Council did not make any comments.

The matter will go before the council’s committee at the Civic Offices on May 13 from 7.30pm.