CAMPAIGNERS are urging their fellow residents to turn out in a show of defiance against a proposed development in Westcliff.

Plans for the five-storey block of 31 retirement flats, with retail space on the ground floor, opposite Chalkwell Park in London Road, have already been rejected twice by Southend Council, but the developer has appealed to the Government.

The development, at 831-837 London Road, would see the derelict Toomey Nissan garage demolished and replaced with shops on the ground floor, three storeys of retirement flats, and a viewing gallery on the top floor.

The appeal hearing, led by a Government inspector, will be held at the Civic Centre, in Victoria Avenue, at 10am on October 20 and residents neighbouring the development site want a show of strength at the meeting.

Jude Raphael, of Wellington Avenue, would be overlooked by the development, which had more than 200 public objectors when it was last rejected by the council in 2014.

She said: “I am not into living in a fish bowl and my idea of privacy is not to go to the bathroom and be overlooked.

“It would be like a battleship behind us.

“We are at our wit’s end now and fed up with the whole thing but we know we need a miracle to win the appeal because the developer will have more power than us residents.

“We’re not against a development on that site, it is a bit of an eyesore, but three storeys is more than enough and one resident has even suggested a car park would be a good idea.”

The plan was rejected by the council in 2012, and again last year, on the grounds of its design, height, bulk and relationship with neighbouring developments.

The residents’ views have been supported by their ward councillors and the council in general.

James Courtenay, Conservative councillor for Blenheim Park, said: “I have no issue with a developer wanting to put something there. It has been derelict for a while now, but I am on record as being against this development as proposed.

“The proposal is big and overpowering. It is overdevelopment and an example of a developer being greedy and wanting to get too much on to a site.

“I wish the developer would sit down and work with the council and residents to work on a scheme everybody is happy with.”

Developer Laindon Holdings Limited was unavailable for comment.