A second public inquiry into the new A130 bypass will be held later this month - as bailiffs prepare to throw Rettendon's eco-warriors off their protest site.

The inquiry will look at the southern section of the new road, running from near Rettendon turnpike and around Rawreth to the A127.

Campaigners fighting to stop the £90 million project going ahead plan to protest outside the inquiry - and have warned the battle is far from over.

Up to 50 eco-warriors have been camped on land close to Gorse Woods since May.

Solicitors acting for contractors CountryRoute and Laing Ltd were successful in gaining a possession order for the site at London's High Court last month.

The under-sheriff of Essex has now been given permission to turf the protesters off the site, with the help of police and expert tunnellers and tree-climbers.

The eco-warriors' solicitor, who asked not to be named, said: "The court stages have been exhausted, which are normally just delaying tactics anyway, and I expect eviction to take place in the next couple of weeks. But eviction is just the start of something much bigger.

"We are also looking to take legal action ourselves to block this section of the road scheme.

"Our argument is that this section is really part of a much larger blueprint and at no point have they looked at the environmental and social impacts.

"Therefore they are acting illegally under British law."

Amanda Webster, from the contractors' solicitors Brabner, Holden, Banks and Wilson, said the eviction proceedings was now solely in the under-sheriff's hands.

She said: "It is down to him to begin enforcement proceedings when he is prepared. Each case of this kind is different."

The inquiry begins on January 25 at 10am in the former Park School in Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh. It will include evidence and depositions.

Work on the northern section of the road was due to start in October but delayed due to the eco-warriors.

They are pressing for smaller bypasses, rather than one major scheme, to be built around traffic-logged towns and villages.

County councillors will later this month consider a range of proposals for improving both traffic management and the environment once the bypass is built.

The include a possible new bridleway network between Rawreth and Thundersley.

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