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Page created
23rd Feb 2010
Labour opposed to the proposed development at 18-32 High Road, Benfleet
For a good number of years various proposals have been put forward to the Council
for replacement of the shops and flats in the High Road in South Benfleet, opposite St. Mary’s Church. Each application
has been more outrageous than the last.The latest proposal, by a
London Developer, for five retail units, fourteen flats and two offices with twenty-one car parking spaces is an example of
shocking overdevelopment in a sensitive area. This proposal is in an area adjacent to the Benfleet Conservation area and overlooking
the historic St. Mary’s Church Whilst accepting the need for
improvements and some development in the area, Castle Point Labour party believe this latest suggestion is distinctly out
of character for the area and would spoil an otherwise scenic vista.Three
stories high and occupying a footprint about twice the size of the existing building, this proposed development is gives every
impression that greed and maximizing profits are taking higher priority than local need.
 Labour’s
Parliamentary Candidate, Julian Ware-Lane and St. Mary’s Labour Councillor Brian Wilson, along with Tony Wright (chair
of the local Labour Party branch) trust that this proposal is soundly rejected by the Development Control Committee at their
next meeting.Brian Wilson says: “This is an absolutely deplorable
proposal. It would dominate the area in a most unattractive way and spoil an area renowned for its special character.”Julian Ware-Lane added “The number of parking spaces strikes me as insufficient.
Parking in this area is already at a premium what with the railway station and shops nearby. This alone should be enough to
rule this plan as out of order.”“I also agree that to
cram so much into this space in such a way as to make it impossible to ignore is intrusive, ugly, and detrimental to the well-established
character of the area. South Benfleet would lose some of its charm should this go ahead.”
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