WORK has begun on a £425,000 project to revitalise a rundown block of council flats.

Castle Point Council is splashing the cash to breathe a new lease of life into Chapman Court, in Seaview Road, Canvey.

The project will see new electronic door entry systems as well as major changes to the communal courtyard, including new lighting, planting, seating and better bin storage.

Delighted residents have welcomed the work, claiming it will go a long way to improving safety.

Parent Sophie Giles, 22, said: “I love living here, but this definitely needed to be done. At the moment, anyone can just wander on to the estate, which is far from ideal when you have children playing in the courtyard, especially as they can walk out into the road.

“The courtyard is uneven and my daughter has fallen over a few times. Hopefully, this work will make a real difference.”

It is hoped the work will also curb a series of problems on the estate, including dumped furniture being set alight, overflowing bins and maggot infestations.

Shirley Keegan, 61, who has lived in the flats since last November, said: “The bins are always overflowing and there is rubbish everywhere and dumped furniture. When it’s windy, the rubbish blows into the doorways.

“The security gates will make me feel a lot safer because people can just walk in from the street.

“I am pleased they are doing this and, to be fair, the council has involved us all the way through.”

The project is expected to be completed in six months.

Beverley Egan, Castle Point councillor for homes and customer engagement, said: “We are pleased the work, which has been planned for Chapman Court over the last year, is now being progressed.

“The work includes new door entry systems and front doors to the flats, new curtain walling to the stair wells, which will improve energy efficiency, new stores for bins and personal storage areas, new surfacing to the courtyard with some seating and planting and renovation of fascias.

“This is a major project with a total budget of £425,000 and has been designed with the involvement of the residents.

“We are pleased the residents have responded so positively to the project.”