Essex Council is keeping quiet about its plans for one of Maldon's last green spaces, Primrose Meadow, despite telling residents it will begin consultations in a couple of months.

On Tuesday (August 16) Nub News reported that Essex County Council had denied it planned to build on the field off Mundon Road, Maldon, "in the near future".

Nub News questioned the Council further yesterday:

1. When asked whether a planning application was likely to be submitted in the near future, ECC said 'no'. Given that residents were told a consultation is likely to begin in the next couple of months, is it not reasonable to expect a planning application to be submitted later this year?
2. Would you be able to provide some more detail about the upcoming consultation process? Who are the other interested parties - aside from Essex Housing and the residents? When will you have enough information to set a date for the consultation to begin?
3. While there are no plans to sell the site 'at present', is Essex County Council planning to purchase the portion of the field owned by Plume Academy? And will that be with a view to development? According to HM Land Registry, the portion still belongs to the school.
4. A number of residents believe the land was 'given to the town' in a form of public ownership. Is this correct?
5. Could you clarify who owns the 'non-Plume' portion of the land? As one resident pointed out, "The council cannot seize ownership if it's common ground".
6. What are Essex County Council's intentions with the land at this stage - are the investigative works indicative of a decision by ECC to pursue development on the field in future? If so, how many homes could be built on the land - and how will Essex Housing reimburse the public for the loss of a significant green space?

Those questions were largely ignored, as the following statement from Essex County Council focuses on the aspect of consultation.

They said: "Investigative works recently undertaken at Mundon Road were carried out to survey and inform our future considerations for a potential development at the site.

"We are committed to conducting a consultation process with residents and this will take place before any planning application is submitted. The timescale for submitting any planning application will depend on the time taken and outcome of the public consultation.

"We anticipate that a public consultation will commence in the Autumn with opportunities for residents to provide feedback via a range of online/offline methods. We will publicise this directly to residents and advertise it through the local media when we have set a date.

"Part of the site is owned by the Plume Academy and part of the site belongs to Essex County Council. Any change of ownership arrangements would need to be decided upon once the future of the site is determined."

BBC Essex's Richard Smith interviewed residents at the Meadow on August 8. (Photo: Janet Mayes)

However, there may be a further complication to development of the site as it is believed an 'intermediate-pressure' gas pipe runs underneath the field.

One resident told Nub News a contractor from gas company Cadent informed her the whole town could risk losing its gas supply if the pipe is damaged during construction. It could also cost 'millions' to remove.

A map of the area surveyed, showing a gas pipeline under the meadow.

A Cadent spokesperson said: "While we cannot comment on individual surveys, we want anyone working near our pipes to be safe. Hitting or damaging a pipe can have severe consequences and we work closely with landowners to ensure any construction near our pipes is done correctly.

"We'd urge anyone who is thinking about digging near our pipes or equipment to let us know before you start, so we can help you dig safely."