CAMPAIGNERS have issued a plea to protect more of Southend’s “second High Street” claiming the decision to snub it was “an injustice”.

In 2021, Southend Council designated the London Road end of Hamlet Court Road a conservation area.

This is an area of special architectural or historic interest to be preserved and it limits any alterations to a building without planning consent.

The southern or seafront end of the road was excluded from the designation because there was not enough evidence to prove buildings merited special protection.

But the Milton Society has called on Southend Council to reconsider its decision.

The group claims research prior to the designation was flawed and the southern end of the road and surrounding side roads should be included.

The area includes Ditton Court Road, Preston Road, Cossington Road and the connecting part of Canewdon Road.

Andy Atkinson, chairman of the society said: “We do consider that the refusal to designate the wider area was an injustice based upon some amount of false information.

“At the time of the refusal to designate the then portfolio holder made it very clear that should further evidence come forwards the designation decision could be reviewed. We now seek that review and present further substantive evidence and take this opportunity to demonstrate the failings of the September 2021 decision.”

The society says errors were made that led to the decision.

It says it now has evidence of Edwardian architectural and historical special interest.

Carole Mulroney, who was the cabinet member responsible at the time, defended the decision. She said: “I said at the time, if they came forward with evidence we would reconsider it. I never blocked it at all. At the time the officers and Purcell consultants considered there was not sufficient evidence to merit the designation of the southern end area.

“There were certain buildings within it that were worth of some sort of designation and we made those into locally listed buildings. I took advice from officers and Purcell who are highly qualified consultants and the evidence was at that time to designate the southern area as a consultation area but I left the door open.”

Purcell declined to comment.