The housing element in the Southend United deal is in danger of being overlooked.

As the city council is now seriously involved the overriding priority should be dealing with homelessness and housing stress.

All too often building homes has become mixed up with other projects and sometimes is not, it seems, the most important part.

In this case it is presented as a way of supporting our local football club but that is not a proper local government objective.

Providing decent homes for people in the town is one of the main purposes of local councils.

It is probably too much to expect that a direct works department be established but ideally local firms could be engaged for the work.

It is a fair bet that no personnel from Thames Plaza Ltd, Alllied Commercial Exporters or even Citizen Housing will pick up a shovel or lay a single brick.

What they will do is pass money between themselves and pick up fees and commissions, in this case mainly paid by the council or the football club.

The most outrageous aspect of it all is the proposal to restrict affordable housing and to rent out a number at 20 per cent above market levels.

Setting aside the likely difficulties of tempting high end tenants to that area this does nothing at all to provide housing for anyone not earning a six figure salary.

All will be fine for those in the tangled web of companies run by family members of the retiring chairman of Southend United.

There is a gold plated deal for the City Council to pay the rents to Thames Plaza for any un-let properties.

I cannot believe that those in authority in the Civic Centre have agreed to this.

Wilful neglect would be a better term than due diligence.

DENIS GARNE

Herongate, Shoebury