A plan to house former prisoners on a quiet residential street has been rejected by councillors.

Loughton Town Council’s planning committee decided to lodge a formal objection to the proposal for the hostel in Ollards Grove, Loughton.

The application by Sanjat Raj to provide accommodation for six or more offenders on licence has been met with fierce opposition from people living nearby.

The committee considered 30 letters of objection and an online petition with 130 signatures, which said the location was unsuitable as it was near family homes, three schools and two nurseries, making it unsuitable for high risk offenders.

The committee, which met at Buckingham Court in Rectory Lane on Monday, agreed and said the necessary support services were not available nearby.

Councillors also said it was unclear if the proposal was a private initiative or led by the National Offender Management Services, which they considered an important factor in public protection.

Mitchell Cohen, of Ollards Grove, said he hoped Epping Forest District Council, which will now consider the application, would come to the same conclusion.

He said: “You can hope but you can never expect.

“I am glad the town council agreed to help residents. It is very important.”