The onslaught of flat building in Leigh will have to continue despite the concerns of the town's council.

Government guidelines dictate about 300 new dwellings a year must be built in Southend in a bid to cut housing shortages.

Members of Leigh Town Council were so worried at the number of applications to build flats they wrote to Southend Council to see if a policy to restrict development could be agreed.

They cited figures that show since 2002, plans for 342 flats have been put forward for Leigh, with 119 received in the first three months of this year alone.

But Mike Pregnall, director of technical services for Southend Council, said Leigh was no different to anywhere else in the borough.

He said: "I do not think that the Leigh ward is being asked to take more than its "fair share" of such development."

Members of Leigh Town Council were dismayed by the response, however, and spoke of their fears for the future of the town and the area.

Pat Holden, chairman of the town council's planning committee, said: "I reflect the opinions of the majority of people in Leigh who are horrified at the way people are being packed in."

Published Wednesday June 9, 2004

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