RESIDENTS in East Tilbury say they are at their wits end over a controversial housing development which remains unfinished and they is now a health hazard as well as an eyesore.

The Lawns development in the village was featured on Thurrock Nub News in February last year as the boss of the firm behind it rowed with Thurrock Council over the amount he has to pay under a community agreement.

Tom Ingleton bought the site in East Tilbury from the applicants who were originally granted permission but when he had put up a number of homes, he began an argument with the council saying he is being asked to pay a larger sum of section 106 money than the site merits.

A section 106 agreement (S106) is an agreement between a developer and a local planning authority about measures that the developer must take to reduce their impact on the community.

The battle between his company, Ingleton Property Ltd, remains unresolved and in retaliation it appears Mr Ingleton will not finish off works on the site which has a constant thorn in the daily lives of its neighbours.

Many of those residents have commented on the council's planning portal, where the planning bid for a reduction in costs remains live, (Check it out via this link) and also on social media.

More than a year on from the Nub News story about the site, which was once an attractive open area with trees, residents have also been back in touch with us with new pictures of the site and comments that it is now infested by rats which are a health hazard and open drains and sewers are adding to the problem.

They have called on the council to resolve the issues with Mr Ingleton to take enforcement action.

Rats from the site are regularly seen in neighbouring gardens

An angry neighbour told us: "This has gone on too long. The site is not just a mess and an eyesore, it's become a dumping ground for rubbish which has attracted rats which invade our homes and it's a real danger with open drains, large pieces of metal coming out of the ground and open manholes.

"This issue needs resolving and if necessary the council should force this developer to clean up his act or prosecute him."

Drains and dumping issues have made the site a health hazard say residents