Councillors have refused to grant planning permission for a block of flats on the site of a former dairy at Stanford-le-Hope because they say it would add to the town's horrific parking problems.

Developers have applied to build 15 two-bedroom flats on the corner of Southend Road, and Fetherston Road, on the fringes of Stanford town centre.

But the plans allowed for only 20 car parking spaces - six spaces short of the council's standard for this size of development.

Current Government advice about parking spaces is that when a development site has good transport links, is on a bus route or close to a railway station, parking standards can be relaxed.

Because of this Thurrock Council's planning department recommended approval for the application.

The council's development control committee, however, has refused to go along with the department's advice and has asked officers to think again and come back with another recommendation.

Councillor Arthur Clarke (Lab, Stanford West) said: "Poor old Stanford. Here we have an application with a shortfall of parking spaces in an area where there are already traffic and parking problems.

"Where do we draw the line? How many more times do we allow new developments to add to our problems?"

Chairman of the committee, Tim McMahon, said: "Although we have in the past accepted lower parking standards when developments are right next to public transport links, this site is not right on top railway station nor have the same kind of bus links as other applications we have allowed.

"Twenty spaces for 15 flats is on the edge of what is acceptable. But if you add to that the overcrowding we know is going on in local roads, the proximity to a dangerous junction and the lack of amenity space, the balance falls the wrong way for this application. It is over-development."

Published Monday December 17, 2001