FRUSTRATED councillors are calling for answers about the future of Pitsea’s £30million regeneration after supermarket giant Morrisons announced plans to close some of its stores.

It comes as signs advertising the huge Morrisons superstore, which was meant to be the lynchpin of the project, appear to have been taken down.

The supermarket chain announced in June it was reviewing its store requirements, but has continually refused to reveal an outcome.

It has now emerged Morrisons is closing 11 stores across the country, putting 900 jobs at risk, following a slump in its profits.

It came just a day after the firm said it was selling 140 M local stores for about £25million to concentrate on its larger supermarkets.

Byron Taylor, deputy leader of Basildon’s Labour group and ward councillor for Vange, said: “It’s not looking good if the signs have gone.

“Pitsea is going to be left as a building site. The whole thing is a shambles.

“We were told we were going to be shopping in there by Christmas, but that’s not going to happen.

“We have a lot of social equity in this project because it’s our community which is being affected.”

More than 5,000 residents signed a petition in 2012 urging Basildon Council not to knock down Pitsea Swimming Pool to make way for the 75,000 sq ft superstore, which is meant to be built off Rectory Park Drive.

At the time, senior councillors admitted Morrisons was the dealmaker, and used the supermarket to justify controversial decisions, including demolishing the Railway Pub and downsizing the market.

Gavin Callaghan, leader of the Labour group and ward councillor for Pitsea, has been pushing Basildon Council, Morrisons and London and Cambridge Properties, which is leading the development, for answers.

He said: “We have been saying Morrisons wasn’t going to go ahead since autumn 2012.

“Residents are really worried and angry, but we don’t have any answers to give them.

“It’s coming up to three years since the swimming pool closed and we’ve got nothing to show for it.”

Basildon Council leader Phil Turner previously told the Echo a legally-binding agreement with London and Cambridge Properties obliges Morrisons to go ahead with the development.

However, it wouldn’t stop the company splitting the building up and leasing it to other traders.

Mr Turner added: “It’s an important investment and we all want it to go ahead. Let’s hope London and Cambridge Properties can pull it off.”