You Keep Using That Word 'Unfounded'...

...I don't think it means what you think it means!

Plans have been approved for “urgently needed” accommodation for homeless people.

Castle Point Council approved the plans to build the home on land off Hatley Gardens, Benfleet, at the recent development control committee.

The multi-accommodation home would contain nine flats, and be used for short term accommodation for people who would otherwise be homeless or in bed-and-breakfast accommodation paid for by the council.

Neighbours can't be happy!

A host of concerns were raised by residents to the plans, mainly focussing on fears over a rise in crime and antisocial behaviour.

Well, quite! What does the council have to say?

In relation to those concerns, planning officers said: “Concern over crime and antisocial behaviour are based on unfounded assumptions about the behaviour of the future occupants of the building.”

Residents also raised issue with a loss of parking, but the development proposes one parking space for each unit plus a further space which for use by the on-site member of staff, which meets the council’s standards.

It's not like the council has to trawl back years to find instances where their expectations for a site of this nature haven't borne fruit, either! So the planning officers choice of words is an odd one.

Except when you factor in that they won't be living near this place themselves, that is...