Campaigning residents have vowed to resist plans to convert a caravan park into a permanent base for mobile homes.

Leshome, which operates the East Beach Caravan Site at Shoebury, has spearheaded the scheme, which would halve the number of vans on the site.

Instead of being occupied only as summer homes between March and October, they would become permanent "park homes" complete with running water and main service facilities.

Shoebury Residents' Association has now joined the fight against the company's proposals, which are due to go before Southend Council's licensing committee on May 23.

Association chairman Mike Assenheim said: "The Shoebury site is the only caravan and camping facility in the south of the county. To allow permanent occupation there would take yet another leisure facility away from the borough.

"Permanent homes would turn the site into a village, and we are concerned that this could become a fire hazard."

Mr Assenheim said it was envisaged that one and two-bedroom homes would generate two vehicles each, equalling 146 cars.

He added: "Furthermore, we presume there will be children. This will put pressure on local schools and further pressure on local GPs' surgeries."

A company spokesman said there was no comment to make at present because it was only a proposal.

Published Thursday, May 1, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo