BASILDON Council will be approaching Essex Police about the force’s decision to temporarily move the custody cells at the town’s police station to Southend.

Labour councillor Kayte Block put the motion to the full council meeting and was pleased that the action of meeting with police and crime commissioner Roger Hirst, getting the support of other local authorities and writing to the Chief Supt to raise their concerns was approved by councillors.

The criminal lawyer said there hadn’t been much awareness for residents or businesses of the change - which Essex Police has said is just a three month costcutting trial before any decision is made.

She added: “This is going to have an affect on residents and business and I wanted to raise awareness.

“There were a lot of consultations when they closed the front counters but there have been none for this.

“Staff at Basildon police station said they had been given just two days’ notice.”