In response to recent articles in the Echo, and comments from Mr Kirkman (Jan 24) I clarify the position regarding accommodation at Basildon Council.

The council is conducting a review of accommodation, this will include vacating Church Walk House saving rent of around £500,000 a year.

The staff in Church Walk House will need to work in the centre to provide services to residents. There is a need to reconfigure the Bascentre to meet this demand.

There is also a need to reaccommodate staff working under umbrellas in the centre of the building. This is caused by the poor design approved by Labour in the 1980s and is providing unacceptable working conditions.

Room 1 serves as the council chamber and is used for other meetings as well.

The plans which will be considered in due course (nothing is agreed) move Room 1 to an extended balcony area allowing the ill-designed "council chamber" to be used as office space to meet staff needs.

There is no suggestion that a multi-tier council chamber will be created, although no doubt if the plans go ahead, like Room 1, the area will be known by that description.

I hope readers will understand that sometimes press reports are misunderstood, especially by those with a vested interest.

Cllr Malcolm Buckley
Leader, Basildon Council

...I have no problems in a general sense with revamping/improving the Basildon Centre. But the Tories controlling Basildon Council have got to make a choice - whether to keep the Basildon Centre/ Towngate or demolish it and start again. There is no point wasting taxpayer's money making a council chamber within the existing building if they are going to pull it down anyway, and rebuild somewhere else.

It is a stupid idea since we've only just finished paying for the building. Please Mr Buckley make your mind up!

David Kirkman
Basildon