CONTROVERSIAL plans for homes and shops have been rejected after 500 objections from residents.
The proposals for 47 flats with shops at the King Street Car Park, Stanford-le-Hope were refused by Thurrock Council last night.
It comes after hundreds of residents raised serious concerns on the plans.
A statement, on behalf of Stanford West Conservative councillors, Shane Hebb and Terry Piccolo said:
"The planning application, would - if it had passed - threatened our much-loved small businesses.
"We are very happy that the application has been booted out, after most councillors on the Planning Committee voted against it.
"SS17 Conservatives have long opposed the sale of the car park, and this application was frankly a monstrosity - it would have overshadowed the town, not to mention that the Stanford-le-Hope high street scene depends on easy and free car-parking for small, and brief retail purchases. There can be no waivers on saving anything less than 100 car parking spaces, nor should we budge an inch on the fact that free car parking should be reinstated."
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