PLANS to convert an empty office block in Southend town centre into an eight-storey care home could create “a deathtrap”, councillors fear.

Runwood Homes’s application to turn the derelict Victoria House, in Victoria Avenue, into a 61-bed residential care home, plus four flats, has been rejected by Southend councillors.

The council’s development control committee threw out the plans because Victoria Avenue has been earmarked as a key area for regeneration with new flats, offices and shops.

There were also concerns about the safety of having vulnerable people housed in such a high-rise building.

Tony Delaney (Ind, Southchurch) said: “Eight-storey blocks are a deathtrap for older and disabled people in wheelchairs.”

David Norman (Lab, Victoria) said: “We are reserving Victoria Avenue at this time for business use and a care home would be entirely inappropriate.

“I know progress during the recession has been slow, but it’s vital this is retained for this purpose.”

However, some councillors felt the development was desperately needed to spruce up the road and provide jobs.

James Clinkscales (Lib Dem, Blenheim Park) said: “I think we should give them a chance. It’s a site that could start things rolling.

“We are in dreamland if we think we could get Victoria Avenue up-and- running in a commercial sense.”

Christopher Walker (Con, Eastwood Park) said: “Those offices aren’t suitable for modern use. We have someone willing to develop it, let them develop it.”

The care home would have been from the basement up to the sixth floor, while the four self-contained flats would have been housed in two extra floors built on top of the building with terraces.

Victoria House, which has a large car park behind, was used as offices for the Department of Health and Social Security, but closed in 2000.

A previous application by Runwood, with shops and offices, was refused last year, because the council felt it went against plans for the area, would result in a loss of office space and was the wrong place for a care home.