A controversial civic amenity site at the gateway to Canvey looks set to be given the thumbs up by county councillors this week.

Members of Essex County Council's planning committee will discuss plans to put the new site and recycling centre at Waterside Farm.

Castle Point councillors agreed not to object to the scheme when it was put before them, despite strong concerns raised by some members.

The current tip at Newlands on the far side of the island would be shut and turned into a large public open space.

In the report for Friday's meeting, councillors are told a civic amenity site would not normally be acceptable in the green belt or coastal protection belt.

Nearby houses would also mean such a plan would usually have to be scrapped.

However, the report goes on to say: "Because of the unsuitability of the existing site, the lack of other alternatives and the benefits of bringing the former landfill site into open space use, a rare exception to these policies is considered justified."

Nearby residents have consistently objected to the planned tip - which would only be closed three days a year - including one couple who said they felt like quitting their home of 16 years in protest.

But a search for another site has been fruitless, with the only other alternative being near the new Safeway store on land owned by the company.

However the firm refused to release the land for use as a tip.

The planning committee will meet to discuss the report at 10.30am on Friday, at County Hall, Chelmsford.

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