PROPOSALS to demolish Pitsea Pool to make way for a giant new Morrisons superstore have been branded “totally unacceptable” by a leading councillor.

Development firm London and Cambridge Properties wants to build a 75,000sq ft supermarket on the site of the current Aldi and a parade of neighbouring shops.

Pitsea Pool, in Rectory Park Drive, would also have to be demolished to make way for the superstore, but the leisure centre, which is in a separate building, would remain.

Lynda Gordon, leader of the opposition Labour group, said: “These plans are totally and utterly unacceptable, and we would most certainly not be supporting them. “We need to keep places like Pitsea Pool because it is very important to the community. I urge residents to take part in the consultation and let the developers know what they think.”

Residents who visited the one-day consultation at Pitsea Leisure Centre, in Northlands Pavement, on Wednesday, complained the developers had not made clear the pool would have to be demolished.

Christine Taylor, 65, of Rectory Road, Pitsea, went to see the consultation and slammed the plans to demolish the pool.

She said: “The way the consultation has been carried out is very sneaky. Nowhere does it say the pool will have to go.

“It is not made clear at all, and it was only after much questioning the developer’s intentions were made clear. Pitsea must be regenerated, but this is not the way.”

Kevin Blake, Basildon councillor responsible for leisure and arts, added: “These are just proposals, nothing has been set in stone.

“I have lived in Pitsea for nearly 30 years, and I know the pool is well under-used.

“I am disappointed with the news, but the pool might have to be the sacrificial lamb for the regeneration of the town.”

In the Pitsea masterplan, put out by the council in 2007, there were no plans for Pitsea Pool to be demolished.

Tony Ball, leader of the council, added: “No decision has been made on the future of the swimming pool.

“Both London and Cambridge Properties and Basildon Council want to see the views of the people of Pitsea through the consultation process.

“This is their proposal, and the council recognises the need to see improvements made to Pitsea town centre, but this is only one consideration in deciding the future of our assets.”

To comment on the consultation log onto www.pitsearegeneration.co.uk