A CAR park at a popular beauty spot has been closed permanently.

The Ministry of Defence said the move is in the interest of safety and will prevent anti-social activity.

Colchester’s Bounstead Road car park, which gives access to Friday Woods, will instead be returned to heathland.

It has been “temporarily” closed by the MoD since late 2017.

Bosses said it followed prolonged antisocial behaviour including homemade fireworks, flytipping and an arson attack on a car as well as vandalism.

Campaigners have called for access to be reinstated with claims it was unsafe to unload dogs and small children on the side of nearby roads.

Following a meeting between Army officials and councillors this morning, the MoD said the decision was made “to enable safer military training and to prevent anti-social activity”.

It added: “The temporary closure of the car park has improved the facility for walkers and horse riders and has enabled the military to train more safely.

“The Colchester Conservation Group has also reported a significant improvement to the heathland habitat since the temporary closure was enforced, benefitting a wide range of flora and fauna.”

Legal public access to Friday Woods will still be allowed for recreational use.

The North Essex Parking Partnership has agreed to investigate and, if necessary, implement restrictions to deter people from parking on Bounstead Road.

Martyn Warnes, Labour councillor for Berechurch ward, has a 1,000-signature petition calling for the car park to be re-opened and attended the meeting with councillor Dave Harris.

His pleas for a trial re-opening of the car park, managed by volunteers, were refused.

He said: “Although the commander is still of the mind he doesn’t want to re-open the car park, he was meeting representatives of the Friday Woods Facebook group next week and we, the councillors, have been invited.

“I am looking to still continue talks and will still be pressing the point that with proper risk assessment mitigations, agreements and licences, there is still a case to be heard for re-opening the existing car park, even if on a trial basis.

“We will also be discussing with him [the garrison commander], a possible alternative site.

“The commander appears to have closed the door but I am hoping I can keep my toe in the door and continue talking.”

The Friends of Friday Woods Facebook group added: "We are deeply concerned to hear that the MoD has today announced its decision to permanently close the Bounstead Road car park, despite the fact that a recent petition to re-open it has received around 1,500 signatures in the last couple of weeks.

"The car park existed as a community resource long before the MoD took over the land, and it is clearly visible on old maps of the area.

"It has always been a strong symbol of the positive relationship between the MoD and the local community.

"Closing the car park has had a drastic impact on the numbers of people who have been able to enjoy their legal right to walk in the woods.

"An FOI request by Friends of Friday Woods has shown that in the two years prior to the car park closure, the woods were officially used by civilian organisations (such as cycling and running groups) on 73 occasions. Since the closure less than two years ago, it has been used by such groups on just two occasions.

"The closure of the car park directly discriminates against disabled people, the elderly and those with young children, who need somewhere safe to park in order to enjoy their legal right to walk in Friday Woods.

"Meanwhile the issue of antisocial behaviour has not been solved by the MoD's actions; instead it has been moved elsewhere, into the local estates and onto nearby agricultural land. There's anecdotal evidence to suggest that more motorbikes illegally access Friday Woods now that there are fewer sensible people there to report this antisocial behaviour."

Group member Jeannine McAndrew added: “We want to work with the MoD to ensure a way forward that allows the military and civilians to share the woods, as laid out in the local Bylaws. If your partner or son is risking their life to defend your country it shouldn't be too much to ask that the MoD let you and your children safely walk your dog in the woods.”