A B&B will be turned into council-run bedsits after plans were approved by councillors.

Castle View Lodge, in Camperdown Road, Canvey, will become eight bedsits for homeless people on the council housing list who need emergency housing.

The Echo understands Castle Point Council has set aside around £400,000 to buy the building and turn it into bedsits.

John Anderson, councillor for Canvey Island Central, was the only member of the committee to object to the proposals which will see four of the bedsits share toilet facilities.

He said: “I am amazed at some of the comments. Would you like to share a toilet with four other people?

“It’s disgusting, and the council needs to provide better accommodation than this proposal.

The smallest bedsit is ten feet by ten feet, and it’s supposed to fit a six by four bed, a two seater settee plus a small wardrobe and kitchen facilities.

“The small bungalow next door doesn’t want it either. I think it’s a great idea to help to offer people this kind of support, but perhaps it would be better to offer this as a four-bed accommodation, rather than eight.”

But fellow councillors ruled in favour of the plans saying it was cheaper for the council to house homeless people in Castle Point Council-owned bedsits rather than paying out for B&B accommodation.

Bill Sharp, another councillor on the borough’s planning committee, defended the application.

He said: “It is a financial benefit for this authority which allows us to spend more money resolving the issue that is there in the first place.

“It’s not capitalism against socialism, it’s economics. I understand the general feelings of this being the modern age.

However, the people this would accommodate are having a difficult time.”

Jeffrey Stanley, who is responsible for the council’s finance and resources, added: “There are two sides to consider, the cost of buying the house and the running costs.

“We have to house homeless Castle Point people in places such as bed and breakfasts, and it comes at a cost. Overall, it’s cheaper to self-run a facility. We anticipate we’ll be around £38,000 better off each year for the next ten years.”