A war of words has broken out over plans to extend Ingrebourne Hill by dumping waste on the site.

In November last year, Havering Council voted to make money by hiring private firm Ingrebourne Valley Ltd to landscape the site using the waste.

In tomorrow’s Recorder, Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas answers Cllr Jeff Tucker’s open letter published last week, calling for him to oppose the scheme.

He said: “I want to reassure all residents not only in the local area but in the wider borough, that I am completely against the plans to increase the site that already exists.

“The area is one of the few large green spaces remaining in the borough and as such we should be looking to preserve it, not increase any landfill site.”

South Hornchurch councillor Michael-Deon Burton (Independent Residents’ Group) has been distributing leaflets against the idea.

They state: “If the residents of Gidea Park, who surround the prestigious Raphael Park, were told that their park would be used as a site for the dumping of waste, what would their reaction be?”

He told the Recorder: “Any beneficial reason for the above proposal is completely lost on those who live in South Hornchurch with children.”

But Mr I Sheppard wrote this week: “The waste from the council report states the waste to be used is inert, by definition this cannot degrade, leach into the waterways or breakdown causing gases.

“Yes it may feel like we are being dumped on, but by definition it’s not a threat to people’s health so where’s the problem?

“What our ward councillors should be fighting for is that any money/benefits generated are invested back in the area like the long awaited visitors centre, more play equipment, or the ranger service to further enhance our beautiful country parks.”

Cllr Steven Kelly, deputy leader of Havering Council, said: “Ingrebourne Valley Ltd specialises in restoration projects.

“The plan is to extend the hill to provide beautiful parkland for everyone to enjoy. There are no plans whatsoever to dump refuse, decomposable material or other substances that would affect the environment on the hill.

“Despite gossip to the contrary, the cabinet is totally committed to the green belt.”

Pick up tomorrow’s Recorder to read more of the letters.