A PETITION calling on the Government to prioritise official statistics over political targets when deciding where to build homes has been backed by Castle Point activists.

The campaign has been created by James Mason, calling on the Government to carry out “objective” assessments when deciding how many new homes are needed.

The petition states that all housing needs across council boroughs in the UK should be assessed using figures from the Office of National Statistics from 2016 onwards, and the number of new homes should not be based on political targets. It has received more than 1,600 signatures so far, and has been backed by the Canvey Island Green Belt Campaign, along with councillors and residents of Castle Point.

Nearly 5,000 homes are due to be built across the borough in the next 20 years, with Castle Point Council initially threatened with Government intervention in December 2017.

A draft proposal was completed but voted down by councillors in December, when it was stated Government intervention would take place “imminently”, but as of this week, no further progress has been made.

About 1,399 homes had been marked for Canvey across nine sites.

But the Canvey Green Belt group believe no large scale development is suitable for the island.

A spokesman said: “The green belt and green fields on Canvey serve two distinct purposes, in particular that of being a valuable water dispersal area in the event of flooding, whether tidal or surface water, and that of a fast diminishing recreational space.”

“Given the many infrastructure issues of Canvey Island, and indeed of nearby South Benfleet, we are of the opinion that no large site development is appropriate.”

Clive Walter, Castle Point councillor for St George’s ward, said: “The numbers that the government are trying to impose upon us are ridiculous, unsustainable, contrary to national environmental targets, not compatible with the infrastructure.

“Excessive development will only create urban hot-spots along the banks of the Thames and this along with the cooling and tidal nature of it will only exacerbate the extreme localised weather we have been seeing over the last few years.”

View the petition at www.petition.parliament.uk/petitions/242244.