PLANS to ban begging and fine the homeless for sleeping in Southend town centre could be expanded to other areas of the town.

Southend Council came up with a draft plan to tackle the problems of people sleeping in public spaces, erecting tents and begging.

Human rights groups complained however rather than withdrawing the scheme the latest version has been revised to include Southchurch Hall Gardens, Hamlet Court Road and York Road with some residents wanting it extended even further.

The scheme, to be discussed on Monday, states fines of £1,000 could be issued to people who are having a “detrimental impact on the quality of life of others”.

Begging could also warrant a fine, as well as urinating, spitting, taking drugs and drinking after being asked to stop. The report states: “This is not intended to be an indirect attempt to ban rough sleeping. The evidence suggests though that the existence of tents and other similar structures has a detrimental impact on the quality of life of those in the locality.”

It adds: “There is an increasing incidence of drug paraphernalia being left at sites where people have been sleeping in public places as well as human faeces. The evidence also suggests that many of those sleeping in public are also involved in begging, sometimes aggressively.”

Southend Council denied it is trying to “target rough sleeping per se” following a six page letter from Liberty claiming the scheme is “unlawful and unreasonable”.

Many residents have welcomed the consultation with one stating: “This area needs to be cleaned up once and for all so that all residents and visitors alike are not afraid to leave their houses.”