CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after Castle Point Council agreed to extend a consultation on 4,000 homes for the borough.

After the Echo revealed yesterday that hundreds of people have not received information about the controversial plan, the authority decided to give people more time.

Now residents will have an extra week to submit their views on the plan, which sets out where houses will be built up to 2031.

The consultation was supposed to finish on Friday, March 21, but this will now stretch to midnight on Friday, March 28.

More than 3,000 people have responded to the consultation since January.

Patricia Mayes, of Hilltop Avenue, Benfleet, said the council had made a “sensible decision”.

She said: “It makes sense and is the right decision in this case.

The council needs to accept that something this important is given enough time for a response.

“As a person entitled to vote, I am disappointed to say I have still not received anything.

“This is a victory for people power and the council must listen to what we have to say.”

Julia Burch, 47, of Badgers Way, Thundersley, added: “I am very pleased the council has taken this decision.

“Hopefully, more people will now get involved and have their say on something that is hugely important to the future of the borough.”

Yesterday, the Echo reported residents had taken matters into their own hands and were handdelivering a stack of consultation packages to streets that hadn’t received them.

Pam Challis, leader of the council, said: “I am delighted so many people have taken the time to look at our draft plan and provide us with their comments.

“There is still time for others to comment – please make your views known, so we can be sure we have heard every point of view.”

Councillor Norman Smith, councillor responsible for economic development and business liaison, said anyone without a leaflet should contact the council.