A POOL of water has been stagnating in the underpass access to a major supermarket for five months as the council and supermarket plea for the landowner to take action.

The pool of rancid water formed in the Basildon Eastgate Shopping Centre parking lot underpass in December.

Having swollen in size over five months, it now stands at almost three feet deep.

Get more great stories like this delivered to your inbox every day by signing up to our morning newsletter - don't miss out!

A shopping trolly that was abandoned in the middle of the “lagoon” in December, at which point had just its wheels submerged, is now almost fully underwater.

Echo: The pool of water todayThe pool of water today (Image: Colin Wells)

The pool of murky brown water has been littered with debris, including a barrier, and is emanating a pungent smell, one shopper said.

Residents have continued to complain to Asda and the council, but nothing is being done, with both claiming it’s not their responsibility.

Echo: How it looked in DecemberHow it looked in December (Image: Roy Davis)

“At this point this lagoon must be a serious health and safety hazard,” Paul Cove, 63, said.

“It has been there for five months, just growing, stagnating and getting worse and worse by the day.

“The smell is absolutely atrocious, and the water is disgusting. It is littered with all kinds of rubbish and waste that has been abandoned.”

He added: “It’s a disgrace that nobody is taking responsibility, meanwhile shoppers and residents continue to suffer.”

Echo: Asda, the Eastgate and Basildon Council all deny responsibilityAsda, the Eastgate and Basildon Council all deny responsibility (Image: Colin Wells)

Basildon Council denies the clean-up is their responsibility, stating it is the freehold owners’ responsibility.

Bosses at the Eastgate Shopping Centre also deny that the land is under their jurisdiction.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “Basildon Council is not the owner, nor are we responsible for the land. We have reached out to the freehold owner asking them to rectify the problem and are awaiting their response.”

Echo: Residents are calling for the pool to be clearedResidents are calling for the pool to be cleared (Image: Colin Wells)

When questioned the council declined to reveal the identity of the freeholder.

Bosses at Asda say they recently met with the council where it was confirmed that the subway is under private ownership as both pursue a resolution. 

The firm has sent a letter to the leaseholder of the pedestrian subway requesting that they immediately investigate the issue.