Residents in Essex should use the results of the latest census to make sure the county develops as they want it to, a rural campaigner has claimed.

David Edmunds, vice-chairman of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, was commenting after census figures showed a ten-year increase of residents of more than five per cent.

Mr Edmunds said today: "It's not the end of the world but it's something all of us who have concerns can take the opportunity to bring pressure to bear on the Government to make sure things are done to protect the countryside and environment for the future."

Published Tuesday October 1, 2002

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