A CONSERVATION group have been left “astounded”

after Southend Council removed a Second World War bomb shelter and unveiled plans to knock down two 19th century homes.

The Essex County Preservation Trust has hit out at the council for its treatment of two houses in East Street, within the Prittlewell conservation area.

The houses were built at the end of the 19th century for staff at Prittlewell station and one boasted an Anderson bomb shelter, used in the Second World War.

Vernon Wilkinson, treasurer of the group, claims the council should not have removed the shelter and has criticised its treatment of the properties.

He said: “I am astounded the council could do this without the proper consent – it is no good it saying it did not know.

“If it were anybody else, they would be hauled over the coals.

It can’t be one rule for one and one for another.

“Covering the gardens in tarmac is outrageous, and the loss of the shelter is devastating.

What’s left of it is just strewn in the back garden.

“If it had been done it with the right permission, we would have been notified as we own the property alongside.”

The row is over numbers 59 and 61 East Street.

Number 61 had been occupied by Ivy Marshall for 90 years before she moved into a home in 2012 and sadly passed away last year, while number 59 has been vacant for 12 years.

The conservation group and Save Britain’s Heritage hope the buildings can be restored.

Southend Council bought the properties from the Church of England and although planning to demolish them, claims it will now work with the groups on preserving them.

Ron Woodley, council leader, said: “Southend Council has opened up a constructive dialogue with the Essex County Preservation Trust and has invited a proposal from it to save the properties.

“If this can be achieved at the same time as managing any safety concerns, given the fragile condition of the buildings, the council will look carefully at the proposal and consider withdrawing or delaying the application for demolition.”

Heritage group joins plea to save buildings

NATIONAL conservation group Save Britain’s Heritage has written a formal letter to Southend Council in an attempt to preserve the buildings.

It claims any decision to demolish the buildings would go against both the council’s and the national planning policy.

Mike Fox, a case worker for the group, said it wrote a similar letter three years ago when the then owner, the Church of England, applied for demolition permission but was refused by the council.

He said: “The buildings are an attractive pair of late nineteenth century terraced houses, built in stock brick with red brick detailing, stone lintels, and attractive sash windows. Together with 69 and 71 East Street, they form a handsome group, worthy of retention and restoration.

“The buildings are noted as having a potentially positive value to the conservation area, if improved or restored.

“The council’s assertion that the properties have a negative effect on the surrounding conservation area and that the buildings are not of particular significance, is therefore false and inaccurate.”