RESIDENTS in Basildon tallest tower block are battling against broken lifts, graffiti and dog mess in corridors as they wait for vital refurbishment work to begin.

An overhaul of the 14-storey, Grade II listed building was set to take place in April 2023, but rising costs have forced the project to grind to a halt.

New decor, an accessible lobby and a roof terrace were set to be added.

One resident, who has asked not to be named, has been living in the property for 15 years and says tenants have “not heard anything” about the planned repair works, which have led to “lots of problems” not being fixed.

Echo: Rusty - handrailsRusty - handrails (Image: Public)

Echo: Graffiti - floor in Brooke HouseGraffiti - floor in Brooke House (Image: Public)

They said: “It’s in a terrible state.

“All of the handrails are rusty, there are too many ill cared for dogs fouling on the staircase and there is graffiti all over the floor.

“As well as this, one of the two lifts has been broken for around three weeks, which is making it very hard for people with mobility issues to get in and out.

“I like living here, but something needs to be done about rectifying these problems.

“Part of the refurbishment was putting in a new floor and new windows. Basildon Council sent a letter round saying that someone was coming round to examine the windows and fix them. Nothing has happened.

“The big problem here is the complete lack of communication.”

Andrew Schrader, councillor responsible for housing and estate renewal, admitted the “situation has not changed” and the refurbishment work is still too pricey for the council to do.

He said: “Day-to-day repairs is a separate issue, and we can deal with those specific repairs.

“It’s difficult to give a running commentary to residents because I do not want to set hairs running, over promise and over deliver.

“As soon as we get a proposal for residents, we’ll let them know but, in the meantime, if anyone has any issues, they can report it in the usual way.

“In terms of the refurbishment project, the situation has not changed very much due to the rising costs going way above the original budget.

“However, we are in talks with officers to work out options and an approach we can take.”