SOUTHEND Council has applied to the county court for an injunction to remove homeless people living on Southend Cliffs.

The council said four to five tents are currently pitched on the picturesque hills off Cliff Gardens in a conservation area between Southend and Westcliff seafront.

The authority says it has done what it can to avoid legal action since the problems began in 2015 but has now acted as the last resort to remove the campers.

Simon Leftley, acting council chief executive, said: “We fully appreciate that this is a sensitive and difficult issue and it is unacceptable and sad that anyone should be homeless in the 21st century.

“However, we must emphasise that in this situation the council has exhausted every avenue available to help those who have consistently returned to camp illegally on the cliffs.”

The council has cordoned off the area with wooden fencing due to cliff slippage saying the area is “unsanitary” and a “public health risk”.

Mr Leftley said council officers had worked with other organisations to help the tent occupants and one was helped to move into accommodation.

Julian Ware-Lane, Labour councillor for Milton ward and the party’s general election candidate, said: “I am on both sides of the fence on this issue. I am always happy to champion the homeless but equally there are are places where it’s unwarranted.

“With summer coming families and dog walkers will be using the cliffs so it’s not appropriate.”

People strolling on the cliffs seemed unaware of the tents.

Barbara Finch, 42, of Bournemouth Park Road, Southend said: “It isn’t good to have people living on the cliffs like that but evicting these people doesn’t get the problem sorted in the long run.

“Homelessness in Southend in general is a problem but I think if they aren’t doing any harm we shouldn’t be too heavy handed. I understand the council’s problem though.”