A SUMMERhouse built illegally on green belt in Benfleet will not be torn down following a meeting of the development control committee.

Castle Point Council refused a retrospective planning application for the summer house, in Mount Road, last March.

The applicant, developer John Madden, was again refused when appealing the case to the planning inspector in March 2009.

But the council has now decided the building can stay.

Speaking at the committee meeting, Benfleet councillor David Cross said there was no point taking action against a building that couldn’t even be seen by neighbours.

He added: “I think it’s ridiculous. No one can even see it. Unless it’s a four-storey block of flats, I can’t see any problem with it.”