Relieved residents who feared their gardens would be swallowed up by developers have been given a reprieve by Castle Point Council.

Thousands of residents across the borough were distressed after receiving a letter from planning director, Ian Burchill, which said the space in their back gardens could be under threat of development.

The council issued around 1,200 letters to residents under a study, ordered by the Government, to find possible sites for development.

The Evening Echo reported two cases in Sidwell Road and Benfleet Park Road, Benfleet, where residents were furious about having another house built just a stone's throw away form their property.

A football pitch in North Road, Canvey, was also under threat by this planning scheme.

Canvey councillor Ray Howard said: "A number of letters were dispatched to people and it was unfortunate the letter was worded the way it was. It did cause residents distress."

But now Mr Burchill has said any residents who do not wish their land to be home to extra buildings won't be under threat.

Mr Burchill said: "We are sorry if the letters caused distress. If residents don't want to see land under their control developed these have been discounted."

Mr Howard added the council has still to find a quota of space for new builds as a Government requirement, but the actual amount of new dwellings hasn't been decided by central office.

He added the council will have a difficult decision to make when the amount of houses the Government requires is revealed.

Published Friday November 28, 2003

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