BASILDON’S £8.4million Youth Zone is set to be scrapped as Tory leaders take control, it has been revealed.

The major plans under the former leadership of Labour’s Gavin Callaghan will be pulled under the new administration of Basildon’s Tories, despite planning permission being agreed.

The £4.1million investment from Basildon Council into the project will be spent elsewhere.

It comes as the Conservative administration have vowed to scale back the town centre masterplan to prevent tower blocks being built, as they took power after Thursday’s elections.

Onside, the firm who would run the Youth Zone, would contribute £4.3million to the project.

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But Pitsea councillor Craig Rimmer said: “The youth zone needs £4million of council investment, that money needs to be spread across the town.

“If Onside want to pay for the whole scheme, then we are happy to go ahead. Concerns have always been raised about the accessibility getting into the town centre from elsewhere.

Halstead Gazette: The inside of the youth zoneThe inside of the youth zone

“We don’t want all these tower blocks built. We will do all we can do stop them. We would rather terraced developments.”

The Tory leadership has also been thrown into doubt.

The Echo understands a meeting was held last night to determine the new leader of the council.

Andrew Baggott, the current leader, could go up against Mr Rimmer who is also vying for the hotseat, Conservative sources suggest.

They will also tackle the derelict Pitsea bingo hall by Christmas and scrap plans to withdraw Basildon from Essex County Council control.

Mr Baggott added: “We want to be strong on law and order. We don’t want to be seeing drug dealers on street corners. We need to be tougher on enforcement, both flytipping and planning. The public know what they want in the town, the election results prove that. We will listen to what they want.”