BASILDON council voted in favour of scrapping plans to change hundreds of addresses of homes on the Five Links estate...but went on to say it does not mean the proposals will not go ahead.

The Tory administration failed to stop the Ukip motion which called for the U-turn, and a pledge not to use public money to defend a magistrates’ court challenge against the plan brought by 400 residents.

The council wrote to residents in 533 houses in Somercotes, Somercotes Court, Mellow Purgess and Newberry Side telling them they would be given new street names to align them with new homes built as part of the estate regeneration.

A council spokesman said: “The motion was carried by 22 for and 18 against. In light of this, the council will be considering its position.”

Labour councillor Nigel Smith said: “It would be outrageous, undemocratic and wrong to go back on the vote and have serious implications for any future co-operation.”