We frequently read of planning applications, often from ruthless developers, being put before the planning department of Southend Council.

Many of these amount to the demolition of, in many cases, perfectly habitable dwellings such as detached bungalows, with Leigh appearing to be the main area of focus.

It is pleasing to see, on many of these occasions, the planning officers decide the proposal is not suitable for the chosen location and refuse it.

Sadly, this is not always the case and a number of undesirable developments slip through the net.

A case in point is the approval of an application for the demolition of a perfectly sound and recently-inhabited detached bungalow in Flemming Avenue, Leigh, in favour of a terrace of four matchbox-sized two-storey houses, with limited facilities for off-street parking.

The original application for the site was withdrawn by the developer following strong opposition from the residents.

This was followed some months later by a different developer submitting even worse plans, but after further opposition, these were refused by the planning office.

We thought common sense had prevailed. But, no, the developer submited another set of plans, almost identical to those refused, and the planning department approved them.

We are left with the prospect of a development that will be totally out of context with the rest of the road, bringing with it the inherant parking problems.

Very few households, these days, have less than two cars, and parking in the area is already becoming a problem.

I think we have Mr. Prescott's department to thank for much of this indescriminate development as he puts the screw on local government to build more so-called "affordable housing".

Or is it that the Council can see the financial rewards of allowing such developments to go ahead?

After all, four lots of Council Tax is better than just one.

Realistically, the site in question could have been redeveloped with two reasonable sized detached or semi-detached properties with some form of garaging.

These would not have been out of place in the neighbourhood, but would not have been so financially rewarding, would they?

Alan Watkins
Flemming Avenue
Leigh