A CHIMNEY has been named the ugliest thing in Southend - and “worse than living next to a steelworks factory or industrial site”.

The owner of the log burning chimney, in Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Bay, has been ordered to tear it down by Southend Council as members of the development committee took turns describing what its ugliness should be compared to.

The thin black chimney is part of an outbuilding and did not have planning permissions.

Expert planning officers recommended retrospective planning permission be granted but elected members thought differently.

Tory councillor David Garston said: “Seriously this is one of the ugliest things I have ever seen, and I describe it as being akin to a mobile phone mast.

“I always look at these things and wonder what it would be like if it was in the back of my place and I wouldn’t want it.”

Lib Dem councillor Carole Mulroney added: “I looked at the plans and thought oh my goodness what is this.

“If I didn’t know that was in a garden, that would almost look like an industrial building – that’s probably going too far – but from what I understand from members that were at a site visit this morning, I understand it is black and it is 4.7 metres high.

“I feel aesthetically in a residential area it is totally inappropriate.”

Labour councillor Matt Dent called it “big and imposing” and said it reminds him of the steel works in Scunthorpe.

In planning documents, council officers acknowledge that the chimney is of “limited architectural value” but say the design is not uncommon following the installation of a log burner.