PLANS for more flats near Rayleigh rail station will be decided by Rochford District Council's development control committee next Thursday.

The scheme, by Alan Gershlick and Glen Bartlett, is for six flats in a two-storey building on the site of a boarded-up bungalow known as Green Gables, opposite the entrance to the station in The Approach.

Rather than being agreed by planning officers under delegated powers, Grange Ward Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Lumley has asked for the decision to be made by the committee.

There have been a number of previous plans for flats on the site and two other blocks of flats have been built in the road.

Rayleigh Town Council has objected to the latest proposals, saying they would be an overdevelopment and would not allow adequate garden space.

Although recommending approval, head of planning Shaun Scrutton said: "The communal garden areas shown on the earlier poposal have been combined to provide a single area.

"While this may meet technical requirements, it is not a very useable space."