SMALL businesses trading at a country park have been given their marching orders by Basildon.gov.uk" target="_blank">Basildon Council.

Traders with craft units in Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, have been told they must be gone by December 31, to make way for a new wildlife habitat.

They say the council promised them new units would be built in the park so they could carry on trading.

Officials are now refusing to confirm whether new premises will be built for the five businesses still trading from the units. Jan Curtis, who has run Jan’s Gifts and Crafts in the park for four years, said the news was a real blow.

She said: “The council has been telling us for years it was going to knock the building down, but we always understood it would give us the chance to move into the new place first.

“Now all it seems to be planning is to close our units and knock them down.

“It wants to see the back of us.”

Anita Reeve, who runs Delightful Dolls, moved into her unit 18 months ago.

She said: “When I moved in, I was told new units would be built and we would probably get first choice for them.

“I'm just starting up and we have spent a lot and time and money to set everything up here.”

Basildon MP Angela Smith is urging the council not to evict the traders until it at least has a starting date for work on replacement buildings.

She said: “I have been pushing the council on this for some time, because it doesn’t make sense. They are not the most attractive buildings, but the people who are there use them and like them.

“The council doesn’t seem to have thought about the people.”

Kevin Blake, councillor responsible for culture and leisure, denied tenants had been promises replacement units.

He said: “The letters we sent tenants are simply confirmation of information we provided them many months ago.

“During the planning stage for the new Wat Tyler Centre, they were informed we would be taking down the units within six months of the new centre being completed.

“We have also told all new store owners who have come in recently the units were only available on a short-term basis.

“The decision as to whether to replace the units is at an early stage and a full feasibility study needs to take place.”