PENSIONERS have been left feeling "vulnerable" after a change in security at a residential site. 

Manned security has been reduced from two guards to one during an eight hour period from 5pm-1am. 

A petition has now been started by residents at Kings Park Village, a park home site on Canvey, as they insist their safety and security was a “major factor” in their decision to buy a home there and “don’t wish to see it compromised.”

However the estate claim they have invested more than £500,000 over the last year to improve security at the park.

A resident, who didn’t want to be named, said homeowners have been left concerned as there is “no visible patrol” in the village.

The resident said: “We are not happy the company have cut the night patrol and claim to now have technology to replace the human factor.

“The technology is yet to be in place. Single older women now feel vulnerable.

“To cause more problems with residents, the main gate is left.

“In that time anyone can walk or drive in unchallenged. If there’s an emergency while the gate is unmanned they would have to wait until security return to give directions. This is a retirement site.”

However bosses at Kings Park Village insist that the entrance and exit of the park is monitored by automated technology and, when necessary, action can be taken by the physical security team. 

Bosses have an expectation for guards to spend "80 per cent of their time at the barrier."

A written petition to Cove Communities, who now run Kings Park Village, says: “For the avoidance of doubt we are petitioning Cove communities to reinstate an unbroken 24/7 human guard presence at the park entrance and to reinstate the security night patrol. We are quite happy for the digital security to coexist with this.”

Rob Turner, resort director, Kings Park Village, said: “We are sorry to hear that a number of residents are unhappy with the recent security changes.

“We have invested more than £500,000 over the past year to improve the overall security of the park.

"Significant investment in a state-of-the-art gated entrance system as well as new CCTV and numberplate recognition technology allows our security team to patrol the park and if necessary, attend to incidents, while ensuring a higher level of security than was previously in place.

“Despite having secured the approval for the security upgrade from local authorities as well as the majority of residents we nevertheless remain committed to engaging with concerned residents.”