UNIMPRESSED residents have hit out at council proposals to spend £1.2million on the council’s headquarters.

Castle Point Council is starting a five-year programme, worth £2.7 million, to improve all of its buildings.

Yet the bulk of the cash will be splashed out on repairs and maintenance of the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley.

Many see this as a waste of cash which could be much better spent elsewhere.

Mary Windsor, 62, of Central Wall Cottages, Canvey, said: “It’s not one of the buildings the public use like the recreation halls and the swimming pools.

“It should be spent on the Paddocks on Canvey rather than throwing it at the council offices, which is a fairly new building.”

Kevin McBrearty, 69, of Woodside Avenue, Benfleet, who runs Castle Point Sport’s Council, said: “I would like to see more spent on leisure.

“I’d prefer them to spend the money refurbishing Waterside Leisure Centre for the benefit of the taxpayers rather than a small number of council workers.”

Most of the £1.2million will be spent on rewiring and installing a new heating system in the offices which were built in 1962 and last refurbished in 1992.

The remaining £1.5million will be split between the council’s other 30 public buildings.

However, the council is unable to give detail where and how the rest of the money will be spent.

Much of it will go towards making sure the buildings comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Canvey Independent councillor Neville Watson said: “Anything to improve and enhance disabled access I’m 100 per cent for.

“The council should be open, honest and transparent and tell us exactly where it is spending the money.”

None of the money will be spent on council houses as under Government rules council’s can only use money from a designated account to improve the state of its social housing.

Deputy leader of the council Jeffery Stanley, who is responsible for finance, said: “There are two pots of money, the housing revenue account which we can spend on council housing and the general fund.

“There can be no transfers between them, therefore our hands are tied.

“A lot of this money is being spent to allow public access for disabled people.

“The council is guardian of its buildings like the householder who looks after his own house. We have to look after our buildings.

“I don’t see the council can be criticised for keeping its buildings in good repair. Its part of responsible building ownership.”