ONLY residents who have lived in the Basildon area for 20 years will be entitled to council homes, if the deputy leader of the council gets his way.


With Basildon Council’s waiting list swelling to 5,180 applicants on its waiting list for housing, the Tory administration’s Phil Turner admits that he needs to get tougher with allocating homes.


Mr Turner, who is also responsible for housing, wants to only offer Basildon homes to those who have a local connection for 20 years.

He also wants to put new residents on a two year probation period to stamp out the problem of nuisance neighbours.


The council is currently reviewing its housing allocations policy, and Mr Turner has put his radical ideas to the authority’s officers to consider.


He said: “Unless you’re born and bred in Basildon you are not getting a council home.


“I’m trying in whatever way I can, to give Basildon residents an opportunity to live in a council house if they need it.


“Officers might well turn my idea down but hopefully we can find a balance. For example, only allowing residents who have got a local connection for ten years a home, but at the end of it we will have the best deal for Basildon.”