CHALET life is all right, say residents living in wooden former holiday homes.

Lord Hanningfield, the new head of coastal regeneration, recently said residents should be encouraged to leave the wooden former chalets in central Jaywick.

He believes they are unsuitable for year-round living, but angry residents say Lord Hanningfield has not thought his plans through.

Homeowner Angie Allen, of Buick Avenue, said: “He has no imagination or vision. This place could be very comfortable.

“There is nothing like it. If you were up in Southwold, you could pay a fortune for a place like this. I suppose if you were used to a lordly way of life, you would find it a bit strange.”

She fell in love with the place after house-sitting for a friend in the area.

Together with her partner Edward Feasy, she has created extra space with a line of brightly painted beach hut-style sheds. They house her spare bedroom, laundry area, garden shed and a workshop for Mr Feasy’s computer repair business.

Ms Allen said it is up to residents how they want to live, but added: “A lot more could be done by social services to improve housing conditions.

“We get a lot of people they can’t house anywhere else.

“They get sent down here to private landlords, and they are not always able to look after themselves, but I would like to think the community does help.”

Christine Thorn, of Brooklands Gardens, moved into a very basic wooden shack, without heating or insulation, but she has turned it into a proper home with the help of a Government grant.

She said: “This has been improved in just five years since I have been here. If they can do it to one house, why can’t they do it to all?”

For Jaywick veteran Alan Betts, who has lived in the area for 23 years, it was clear there had been improvements.

The 59-year-old lives in Alvis Avenue with his wife Pat, and children Penny, 21, and Ricky, 19.

He said the area had improved hugely in his time, despite the fact his street has changed from having a majority of holiday homes to full-time residents.

And Brian Webb, who has lived in Hillman Avenue for nine years, admitted that like many, he moved to the area out of necessity, drawn by the cheap rents.

He said: “I came down here because I could not afford anywhere else, but now I am here, I would not want to go anywhere else.

“I have been here for seven years and I know more people that I ever knew before.

“Can you honestly say that where you live? You go to Colchester, or Clacton, and you don’t talk to anybody.

“I would like him to come and tell me face to face that he wants to kick us all out.”