MORE than 30 people living at a retirement village are being forced to leave their homes.

Bosses at Kings Park, on Canvey, have sent letters to people who rent out former holiday chalets all year round informing them that their tenancy agreements will not be renewed.

The 70-acre retirement village has about 1,000 residents over the age of 50 and is currently made up of single-storey pre-fabricated homes. Bosses are currently drawing up redevelopment plans.

One residents, who has been sent the letter, said: “We live in old holiday chalets. They are our homes and it’s a good community here, we all help each other.

“Many of the people being evicted are elderly and disabled. What effect this is going to have on them I hate to think. Many of them live alone.

“It’s going to be torture over the next few months trying to cope.”

Vera Allen, 79, who has lived at the park for 16 years, has friends who have been asked to leave by August 1.

She said: “I think it’s disgusting. It’s not fair on them. I’m amazed it’s going to happen. Everyone is really shocked.”

Neighbour Sheila Spooner, 71, added: “I’m not going to be directly affected but I think it is a huge shame. The chalets all look really nice round and they are part of the park’s history.”

Joan Langley said she is concerned about the effect subsequent building work will have on remaining residents. She said: “Everyone is really upset. There’s already too much traffic here too, it’s like living on a main road sometimes.”

MP for Castle Point, Rebecca Harris, believes 30 chalets are affected - some of which are home to couples. She said “It’s going to be very upsetting as they are happy there.”

But she added: “This has always been on the cards. I’ve been told the residents knew it was not a permanent arrangement. The site wants to give as much notice as possible for them, more than they are legally required to as they know it was been an issue for people. “

Michael Prideaux, director of Kings Park, said: “These chalets were built in the Sixties as holiday chalets and are not built to a full residential standard. They were scheduled for demolition in 2008 to make way for park homes but during the recession they were rented out temporarily.

“So noone is going to get a new letting agreement. Most of them are expiring shortly but noone will have to leave before August 1.

“People are legally required to give two months notice but we are giving them more than that.

“We hope to redevelop them in the Autumn.

“We just want to stress that the design of these chalets is not appropriate for the next 20 years. They were always going to be redeveloped and improved and the time for that is now.

“I understand people are going to be affected by this which is why we have done our best to give more notice than is legally required.”