A BUSY town centre car park found to be operating illegally is set to be sold off.

The Bowl, in Station Way, Basildon, came under threat of closure in February, after landowners Homes and Communities Agency discovered the South Essex Parking Partnership was charging drivers to park without permission.

With no official agreement reached, the car park, next to Basildon train station, has remained dormant, with its ticket machines disarmed.

In a letter to South Basildon and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe, the agency revealed it intends to sell the space.

It is hopeful the site can continue operating as a car park.

Mr Metcalfe said: “I find the situation of the parking partnership using the car park without the HCA’S knowledge extraordinary.

“We need to get to the bottom of what happened here.

“The car park is an important asset close to the station providing a useful service.

“I feel it is a positive that the space will continue to provide residents and taxis somewhere to park.”

The letter, which was sent to Mr Metcalfe by a Homes and Communities Agency boss, said: “In terms of the future of the car park, subject to internal approval, we are proposing to mark the site for disposal.

“Because of the site’s location we would anticipate interest will come from car parking operators.”

Taxi driver Ralph Morgan, 72, from Vange, welcomed the news, but warned of potential price hikes in the face of private operators buying up.

He said: “It would be a disaster for Basildon if it is sold and then turned into something else.

“People rely on that station and it’s imperative that we use the bowl as a car park.

“But if a private owner gets in there then I guess we don’t know what will happen.

“There is always the danger that prices could go up.”

The car park has been free of charge since the HCA disarmed its ticket machines at the beginning of the year.

The agency revealed the unlawful operation after reviewing its books, discovering no arrangement had ever been made for the South Essex Parking Partnership to use the space.

Mr Metcalfe added: “We shouldn’t be quick to jump to conclusions.

“It may have been that the parking partnership had operated there for some time before the HCA took ownership of the land.