Castle Point's MP Bob Spink warned new planning guidelines will weaken the borough's ability to protect against unwanted development.
Mr Spink spoke out against deputy prime minister John Prescott's new guidelines on countryside developments.
The Tory MP for Canvey, Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh believes the guideline's small print will weaken existing planning protection against building on Castle Point's green fields.
Mr Spink said: "We already knew that John Prescott was planning to let rip with his bulldozer over our green belt.
"Now he has our small area of farmland in his sights by weakening councillor's ability to protect our communities from unsustainable and unwanted development.
"Downgrading the protection of farmland will open the floodgates for a barrage of attempts by developers to cover some of our most beautiful and valuable countryside in Hadleigh, Benfleet and Canvey with concrete."
Published Monday August 16, 2004
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