A WAR of words has erupted over two derelict buildings in Pitsea.

Basildon Labour Party has slammed the Conservative administration running Basildon Council as asleep at the wheel, after the Leader of the Council admitted that he has had zero conversations about the future regeneration of the former Bingo Hall on Pitsea High Road.

Echo:

Dilapidated - the old Pitsea bingo hall

But Andrew Baggot Tory leader of Basildon Council said this is not the case.

The Labour Party said in response to a question from the Chairman of the Regeneration Committee, asking what conversations have been had in connection with the Pitsea Bingo Hall, Cllr Andrew Baggott blankly replied that “no conversations have been had with regard to Pitsea Bingo Hall.”

The old Bingo Hall is an iconic building in Pitsea that has been sadly left to fall into disrepair and blights the character of the area.

The Labour Party claim it comes after the Chairman of the Regeneration Committee confessed in October 2018 that he is not aware of any plans to refurbish the boarded up Barge Public House on Pitsea High Road.

Basildon Labour’s 2019 election manifesto pledges that a future Labour Council would seek to invest in these buildings to deliver community facilities for Pitsea.

Councillor Andrew Ansell, Labour ward councillor for Pitsea South East, commented: “It’s astonishing that we have a 'Billericay Conservative' administration that is asleep at the wheel and standing by while the iconic former Bingo Hall continues to blight the area. Labour would look to work with site owners to stop the rot and seek to invest in the former Bingo Hall and Barge Pub to help ensure Pitsea has community facilities to be proud of.”

Mr Baggott said: "As a council we simply cannot just buy every derelict building in the hope we can do something with it.

"We do not own these buildings so we are limited in what we can do.

"We have been working on various projects including East Square and the Laindon Centre.

"To say we are falling asleep at the wheel is laughable."

The Echo understands EI Group owns the former Barge Pub and the bingo hall is owned by Tilbury based Hereign Events Management.

Both firms have been contacted for comment.