Councillors have spoken out after young mums started a petition to bring down the three tower blocks on the Seabrooke Rise Estate, Grays.

A group of mothers reacted with disappointment after the Gazette revealed last week the flats were likely to stay.

The news came after council leader John Kent revealed it was leaning towards keeping the tower blocks.

Lynn Worrall, the councillor responsible for housing, said she would be urging her cabinet colleagues next week not to demolish the tower blocks “at this stage”.

She added: “The majority of residents are in support of demolition and building new homes, but a substantial minority are not in support, and many of these have lived in the flats for decades.

“We cannot simply ignore one for the other.”

However, mums from the Facebook group High Rise Flats Grays Seabrooke, including mum-of-one Rachel Low, 23, of Butler House, said they felt "upset, angry and feel terribly isolated."

Ms Low said: “Some of us can’t even have the windows open because it’s too dangerous for our kids.

“Lots of the people who signed the petition to keep the blocks are elderly, and I feel that’s selfish. They have lived their lives and are happy here, but we’re not.”

Other young residents complained of drug problems in the blocks.

Cherie Hallam, 29, of Greenwood House, who has four young children, said: “I have often come down the stairs to drug abusers injecting or drinking, and younger kids smoking cannabis.”

Correen McPherson, 34, of Greenwood House, added: “I don’t know why I pay my taxes when I feel I’m paying for the majority around me to take drugs, make noise and scare my 15-year-old daughter!”

Conservative Tunde Ojetola, the council’s shadow spokesman for housing, said: “Our policy is quite straightforward, assess the viability of the blocks, be honest and open on the options to best maximise the use of the blocks, consult with the residents and, if necessary, have suitable accommodation for those who may need to move.”

Ukip councillor Tim Aker said: “I have every sympathy with residents with young families being allocated housing on the top floors of high rise flats. It is, however, not a reason to demolish the flats.”

The issue is due to be discussed at next Wednesday’s council cabinet meeting, where members will agree a recommendation to put to the full council.

A spokesman for the council said a report to the cabinet would set out the need to “balance competing interests, needs and aspirations of local people and the continued need to provide affordable housing.”