A DERELICT former shop is becoming a “magnet” for anti-social behaviour with youths breaking into the building and gathering inside, it has been claimed.

Furniture Kingdom, in Tarpots, Benfleet, closed in 2020 but has been empty since and is becoming a "derelict eyesore", according to nearby business and council candidates.

Plans were approved in October 2021 to demolish the building and replace it with 40 flats however there has been no progress since.

According to Tory candidate for the Tarpots ward, Andrew Sheldon, youths are breaking into the building and using it as a place to meet.

He fears the building is unsafe and Castle Point Council has stated it has contacted the owners about adding security.

Echo: Concerned - The owner of Riley's fears the knock-on effect the 'eyesore' Furniture Kingdom may have on surrounding businessesConcerned - The owner of Riley's fears the knock-on effect the 'eyesore' Furniture Kingdom may have on surrounding businesses (Image: Google Street View)

Mr Sheldon said: “The owners need to take more responsibility for securing that building.

“The last thing we need is for it to become known as a hub for antisocial behaviour, it’s so close to local homes and people are worried.

“I understand the Castle Point councillors are contacting the owners and I urge them to hurry up and get them to put measures in place to stop this as soon as possible.”

Supervisor at Riley’s Sports Bar, which backs onto the derelict building, Amy Munt, fears it is having a knock-on impact on surrounding businesses.

She said: “We get quite a few people who go in there and I haven’t dealt with it myself firsthand but I think that where we have our beer garden, you can see how bad it looks from in there which is off-putting.

“It doesn’t help us and I think it would be best it something was done by the council to sort the situation.”

A spokesman for Castle Point Council said: “The council has been in contact with the owner’s representatives about the security of the site and will continue to work with the owners to address issues relating to the site.”

Other candidates in the Tarpots ward are Jamie Bomford (Con) Kieron Bowker (PIP) Michael Dearson (PIP) Holly Foxen (Lab) Susan Foxen (Lab) Sunil Gupta (Con) Andrew Sheldon (Con) Benn Wimbledon (PIP)