A COUNCILLOR has vowed to fight for mobile homes at Thorney Bay Park to be classed as permanent residences and knocked off Canvey’s future housing targets.

Speaking in response to a question from a resident at Canvey Island East Neighbourhood meeting, chairman Lee Barrett said if it could be proved there were 2,000 residents living at the park, there may not be any need to build any more homes on Canvey.

Around 2,000 homes must be built on the island by 2026 to meet Government housing targets. Castle Point Council has produced a Core Strategy setting out where in the borough the homes will go.

Mr Barrett said: “I certainly will be pushing to have them taken off the number of houses in the Core Strategy.

“If it’s proven there are 2,000 residents there, then we wouldn’t have any more houses built on Canvey.”

His comments followed a heated exchange between resident John Pharro and Castle Point Council’s head of policy and performance, Diane Logue.

Ms Logue told the meeting a revised licence for the site and number of homes was being drawn up and officers were in negotiations with the parks owners.

Mr Pharro, 65, of Orrmo Road, Canvey, said: “There has got to be between 1,600 and 2,000 people who are permanent residents.

“If people live there permanently, there are residential homes that should come off the number of homes needed in the borough.”

Mr Pharro’s comments were met with applause from many of the residents at the meeting, at Leigh Beck School.

But Ms Logue insisted there was no evidence people were living at the site permanently.

Under the Core Strategy, land behind the Dutch Village has been earmarked for 400 homes, despite current advice from the Environment Agency against building new residential homes on the island.

Castle Point MP Bob Spink said: “If people are living on Thorney Bay then clearly those homes should be counted against the target for the number of homes for Castle Point.

“We need to know whether Park Homes qualify as part of the housing target.”

Mobile homes at Kings Park Village, in Creek Road, Canvey, do count towards the housing target as it is classed as residential, but currently those on Thorney Bay do not.

Dr Spink added: “Anything that reduces the pressure on green belt is a good thing.”

Graham Bracci, of the Canvey Island Greenbelt Campaign, was more cautious.

Mr Bracci, 60, of Hollands Avenue, Canvey, said: “Theoretically they should come off the target, but I don’t think there should be any more development on Canvey until the Environment Agency says it is safe.

“What chance would a caravan have if there was a breach of the sea wall?”