BASILDON will lose its bus station under radical plans to reshape the town centre.

Council bosses want to sell off the site for development and spread bus stops around town.

Elderly residents now fear for their future travel.

Ivy McFarlane, 75, of Methersgate, Basildon, said: "This would be terrible.

"I use the bus station to change from the number five to three or more other buses, including ones to Brentwood and Lakeside.

"The station is so convenient and under cover.

"I have been to towns with no station and it is horrible walking in the rain looking for the right stop."

The original town centre masterplan proposed redeveloping the existing bus station as something else, and creating a public transport centre for trains, buses and taxis nearer the town centre railway station But none of the four development consortiums battling to win the contract to rebuild Basildon are interested in a bus depot in a modern town centre.

Stephen Horgan, Basildon councillor responsible for regeneration, said bus stops dotted around town will be the way to improve services.

However, Allan Davies, Basildon Labour group leader and Parliamentary candidate for Billericay and Basildon, has started a campaign to save the station.

He said: "Mr Horgan says the bus station is a waste of space.

"I think the people of Basildon have a completely different opinion on this issue. They value its unique style, including a historical mural of Basildon, that isn't found in the rest of the town.

"Will it be the town centre developers who will be in the driving seat instead of the people of Basildon?"

He said there were a good range of shops so people could have a cup of tea while waiting for the bus and people changing buses could do so within a few paces.

Mr Horgan accused him of living in the past.

He said: "His vision of a 21st century Basildon is the one planned in the 1950s.Developers are telling us there is no need for bus stations in modern town centres. If I came forward with his proposals I would be laughed at."

Mr Horgan said shoppers had to struggle with heavy bags from all parts of the town to the station.

He added: "With stations around the town centre, they can choose the nearest one and it will be planned so services link up.

"The current bus station rarely has more than one or two buses in at a time, so is wasting valuable redevelopment land."