DEFIANT councillors are standing firm against plans to put more antennae on Benfleet water tower.

Castle Point Council’s development control committee unanimously rejected plans for two new dish antennae on the Grade II listed building.

The plans, submitted by Vigilant Global, were for 60cm and 1.2m dishes – the latter of which would have been the biggest antennae on the building so far.

Tom Skipp, Conservative councillor for Appleton ward, said: “I have consistently opposed any applications on the water tower and will continue to do so.

“I cannot understand why, as technology and phones are getting smaller, the dishes are getting bigger.”

Plans had also been submitted by Communication Infrastructure UK for four microwave dishes to be installed on the tower, but these were withdrawn by the company.

Both applications were put forward weeks after councillors vetoed plans from mobile servers EE and H3G UK to install a new antenna and satellite dish on the landmark.

Norman Smith, Tory councillor for Boyce ward, said: “This is no longer acceptable.

“I don’t understand why every two or three months we are getting applications for more equipment on this building.

“I am happy to approve applications to replace existing, tired equipment but not more. Enough is enough.”

The tower, which stands on one of the highest points in the area, is already crowned by a 75ft-tall radio mast in the centre of its roof.

It is also estimated to have around 16 different types of mobile phone antennae, providing coverage across the Thames Estuary, as far as the Isle of Grain and the Medway towns, plus Southend, Bradwell and Danbury on the Essex side.

Calls have been made for the authority to conduct a formal reviewof exactlywhat aerials are currently on the building.