Basildon Council won't reconsider its decision to sell playing fields for housing development, after councillors voted against looking into alternative funding sources for the Sporting Village.

Conservative councillors were at loggerheads with Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors during a heated meeting on the issue at Basildon's Towngate Theatre.

Before the meeting, about 70 residents fighting to save plots of land the authority is selling protested with placards and banners outside the theatre.

Labour councillors had called on the extraordinary meeting of full council to debate whether other funding sources could be identified, in light of the strength of public opposition to selling land at sites including Gloucester Park, Kent View Road and Northlands Park.

Phil Rackley, deputy leader of the Labour party, suggested the authority used money from reserves, sold car parks, borrowed cash or sought sponsorship to find the cash.

But Tory councillors rejected his ideas, claiming more housing was needed, borrowing would lead to a hike in council tax, sponsorship wouldn't cover the sum needed and reserves needed to stay in reserve.

Labour and Liberal Democrats voted to reverse the authority's decision to sell the playing fields, but they were outvoted by their Tory counterparts who voted against the proposal.

After the meeting, disappointed campaigners vowed to continue fighting.

FOR THE FULL STORY, SEE WEDNESDAY'S ECHO