PLANS to transform a hotel into a home for people with mental health issues were refused because it is “not needed”.

The care home application would have seen Trinity Hotel, Trinity Avenue, Westcliff, become a supported living facility.

However Southend Council’s development committee claimed there are existing facilities in the area which fill the need.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Alan Martin, owner of The Trinity, said he has been looking to sell the hotel for more than three years so he can retire but with the prospective buyer failing to secure planning permission he doubts the sale will go through.

He explained that business for smaller hotels has become challenging as a result of larger chain hotels.

Tory councillor Derek Jarvis, who did not object to the proposal, said: “With the way hotel development has taken place in Southend, the smaller places are finding it hard to survive.

“I do think there’s a situation we have to take in mind that if there is a good use for this building and it lessens empty smaller hotels then that would be better for the town.”

When it came to a vote 13 councillors voted to refuse planning permission.

The claim is there is already a homeless person’s hostel, a residential care home for children and a care home for older residents in the area - although these are all facilities for different groups of societies.

Objections outlined in six letters received by the council claim that the other nearby establishments have led to a growing anti-social behaviour problem, with reports of “drug use and “prostitution”. Neighbouring properties fear another support service would place “an unfair burden on local residents”.

They also raised concerns about how the care home would impact property values and how 24-hour staffing would affect parking availability in the surrounding area.