Campaigning Benfleet residents have gathered a petition of 300 signatures to protest against plans to create a fishing lake in their area.
The site of a disused lake in Coombe Wood, which was drained some years ago, is causing uproar within the community.
The controversial scheme was the brain child of Alan Foster of Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet, and a friend who wanted to create an area for people to fish in Castle Point.
However, residents of Lake Drive, which provides road access close to the dry lake, became suspicious of Mr Foster's plans and mounted a campaign to stop them going ahead.
In recent days the argument has become heated with both sides claiming the other has misled people and they are suspicious of each other's motives.
A spokesperson for the residents' campaign, Russell Bost, 45, of Lake Drive, said: "I can't see how Mr Foster can achieve what he wants.
"How can it be commercially viable at such a small site? It is not a lake it is only a pond.
Alan Foster has been astonished by the opposition to his scheme and cannot understand why anyone is against it.
He said: "The land belongs to all of us and not just a limited few in Lake Drive."
Published Monday October 28, 2002
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