CALLS have been made for urgent repairs to be carried out on the dilapidated Laindon Centre while regeneration plans are up in the air.

Phil and Pat Rackley, independent labour councillors for St Martins ward, are disgusted at the pothole ridden front and back car parks while the pair have also discovered gutters filled with overgrowing grass and even concrete which cause flooding problems as soon as it rains.

The Echo has joined residents and traders in calling for Basildon Council to compulsory purchase the shopping centre, off High Road, Laindon, so long awaited regeneration can finally get started.

Mrs Rackley said: “We have been dealing with problems at the Laindon Centre for more years than I can remember. We’ve already had issues with potholes in the past, bins overflowing with rubbish and graffiti everywhere, and now we’ve got the blocked drains.

“Something needs to be done, the centre looks terrible and it’s got to the point where it’s dangerous. I’m amazed no one has broken a leg whilst walking around there.”

Whilst talks to regenerate the Laindon Centre have been ongoing since 1996, plans for a huge supermarket and string of high street shops never materialised.

Part of the centre was demolished in 2008, but the remaining has been left to become increasingly run-down.

Trae Thompson, manager of Fish ‘n’ Chick’n at the Laindon Centre, said: “Even if the regeneration is not going ahead, the centre could still do with investment. People have fallen over and hurt themselves because the pavement is so uneven and we often have flooding. It doesn’t affect the shop as such but obviously nobody wants to come down here when it’s like that.

“Our store in Pitsea takes double what this one does, but there are thousands of families living around here. I don’t see why the Laindon Centre shouldn’t be competing.

“Even if the rent gets reduced just to get the businesses in or the centre gets tidied up a bit then that’s a start.”

Colonade, owners of the Laindon Centre, were approached by the Echo but did not respond with a comment.

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: "Although this is the responsibility of the land owner we are aware of the issues at the Laindon Centre. We have regular walkabouts with the management and make sure we put what pressure we can on them to make sure they are maintaining their responsibilities.”