CASTLE Point councillors have ignored the advice of their officers and thrown out plans to build 14 homes in the middle of Canvey town centre.

Chief development control officer Kim Fisher’s team had recommended approval for developer Pemican’s proposals for a site in the High Street.

However councillors voiced concerns about the design of the block, the lack of amenity space for residents and the way the three-storey block was to have been wedged in between C & J Autos and a Costcutter supermarket.

They suggestedamore modest proposal might have stood a better chance of winning approval on the site, now home to a hand car wash business.

Patricia Sparks,whose home in Barnards Avenue is behind the site, spokeat the meeting.

She said:“Wehavealot of problems in Barnards Avenue.

“If you are coming from the High Street and turning into the left side, you have the added worry of being smashed into by cars coming out of the Costcutter garage. It isdeadly.”

Canvey Central councillor Dave Blackwell, in whose ward the site lies, also raised concerns.

He said: “I know we are all under pressure to find more homes for the community, but this development looks as though it has been squeezed in a very small space.

“Highways didn’t object to the plan as it said there was plenty of public parking in the town centre, but that is a mile from the site.

Three storeys would totally overdominate the area. If itwasa two storey proposal, Iwould behappy.

“The people facing the garage would have a constant smell of petrol and diesel and wouldn’t be able to open their windows.”

Pemican has yet to say if it will appeal against the decision.