SQUATTERS are still living in a “shanty town” of run-down garages in Westcliff despite efforts to move them on.

In August, the Echo reported at least six people were living in derelict garages off London Road and Ceylon Road, with residents in nearby flats and houses complaining of being woken by late night drinking and rowdiness.

Milton Labour councillor Julian Ware-Lane spoke with a number of the squatters about their circumstances and said “something’s clearly broken” in Southend’s housing system.

He had previously expressed concern about how they would cope once temperatures plummeted – but said the matter was complicated by the private lot’s owner being abroad.

He said: “There’s an ongoing conversation between the council and the owners, as we are trying to get the site blocked off.

“The problem is the owners are offshore so it’s difficult to get hold of them – it’s being dealt with but I don’t see it being dealt with speedily.”

Deputy council leader Ian Gilbert added efforts were being made to engage with the squatters in an effort to get them housed.

He said: “An outreach worker has been out there on some early morning patrols with the police but recently the garage shutters have been down and she has struggled to engage with anyone.

“However, she is working with a couple of people who were sleeping there and have successfully moved on.

“The same offer is available to the people sleeping there as to everyone else sleeping rough in the borough.

“We can offer to link them up with any services and support they need, make referrals to Harp, reconnect them to support networks at their point of origin, take formal applications to determine any statutory duties and so on.

“They are also able to seek referral to the Winter Night Shelters that start next month and we are encouraging them to do so. Despite all these offers of assistance, the people using the garages need to be willing to engage with us and accept the assistance.

“Alongside trying to find a way forward for genuinely homeless people, we’re also working with the police, who have primary responsibility for tackling any legal activity.”