A TOWN centre car park has sold at auction for way over its guide price.

The Bowl car park, in the centre of the roundabout connecting Cherrydown East and Station Way, Baildon, was sold at an Andrews and Robertson auction.

The site had a guide price of £450,000 - but the hammer eventually fell at £725,000. It is not yet known who has purchased the land and what their plans are.

The land - previously owned by the Homes and Communities Agency - was listed as being a development opportunity. Due to its town centre location and proximity to the railway station, it has sparked fears that it will be turned into flats.

Currently, it is used as an unofficial car park and as a feeder taxi rank for the station.

Cabbie Ralph Morgan labelled the sale as an “absolute disaster.”

He added: “The problem you have is when c2c have a rail replacement service they have the Ensign buses - six to eight of them - in that car park.

“If they get rid of the car park, how are they supposed to take passengers away from the station?

“Another issue is that on average we pick up 700 people from that station. Without the feeder rank that is in the car park, there are only spaces for two taxis - where are the other taxis supposed to go?”

He praised Basildon Council leader Phil Turner and senior licensing officer Amanda Andrews for working to find a solution to the problems in case the site is developed into flats.

Stephen Hodge, Ukip councillor for Nethermayne ward, added: “From a planning inspectors view, it’s a town centre location and it can be given planning permission without parking spaces.

“I hope the South Essex Parking Partnership refuses to axe the disabled bays and taxi rank places which would scupper flats at this location.

“If flats are built here, where will taxis wait to pick up passengers or people picking up family or friends from the station?”