CANVEY town council have objected to plans to knock down a bank of garages which have become a magnet for antisocial behaviour and build houses in their place.

The 28 garages in Church Close, Canvey, have been targeted by vandals and flytippers over the course of the last five years.

The application was discussed by the town council’s planning committee, who lodged an objection stating there would be insufficient access to the site, and “over dominance to adjacent properties.”.

Castle Point Councillor, Peter May, ward councillor for the area, spoke at the beginning of the meeting, advising the area has had high antisocial behaviour problems, drug issues and drinking issues.

The councillor has been working closely with Castle Point to combat the issues, and felt the development would resolve the problem.

While Castle Point Councillor, Ray Howard, also attended and stated that Southend Council have previously used disused garage sites for social housing, with success.

The garages are located in a residential area of the island and, if the plans are approved, will make way for four detached two-bedroom homes.

Each home will have two parking spaces and there will be an additional four spaces for visitors.

Castle Point Borough Council owns the land where the garages are situated and the subsequent housing will contribute to the council’s sorely needed social housing stock.

Planning committee chairman, Peter Greig, said: “I would have to say in some respects I can have a look around and say its a good thing.

“But at the same time I can see we could end up with upsetting a lot of residents.

“For one, houses in the area will be overlooked and that will be the one thing that will upset people.

“Having houses, they will be able to look into people’s houses and gardens.

“They are houses not bungalows and that gives me a clear reason to go against it.

“They will be overlooking right into peoples houses and on that basis I would reject it.”

View, and comment on the application, on Castle Point Council’s planning portal with code 18/0061/FULCLC