A SENIOR Tory councillor has been slammed as “disgraceful” for telling residents Basildon Golf Course could be used for housing if revamp plans were blocked.

Geoff Williams, Basildon Lib Dem group leader, criticised Malcolm Buckley, Basildon councillor responsible for the environment, for warning the Friends of Basildon Golf Course to drop its Court of Appeal challenge against a £1million revamp of the course, or face a housing estate being built there.

The campaign group is awaiting a date for its court battle to revoke the planning permission the council gave to Jack Barker Ltd to carry out the revamp using 180,000 tonnes of building spoil to reshape the course, claiming the required environmental studies had not been carried out.

Following the discovery of rare green-winged orchids on the course, Mr Buckley warned the group that the only options were the revamp or a housing estate, despite it being designated green belt land.

Mr Williams said: “Councillor Buckley has shown how supremely unqualified he is to occupy his cabinet post by putting the two alternatives: Either wreck the land by allowing the dumping of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of spoil, or wreck the land by selling it off to the highest bidder for housing development.

“Can we really believe our environment is safe in Tory hands?

“His contention is mind-blowing in its arrogance.”

Mr Williams said one of the local Tory group’s policies was to defend the green belt and natural environment.

He added: “Councillor Buckley should be seeking to protect and enhance our natural environment, not trying to exploit it, or let it be exploited, for monetary gain.

“He has taken a disgraceful position on this important and sensitive issue, and one he and his party may come to regret.”

Tony Ball, Tory council leader, said housing on the course would be a last resort.

He said: “Our focus is to win the court case so it can be recontoured and operated as a viable course.

“The orchids issue will be looked into.

“If it cannot operate as a golf course, it would cost £100,000 a year to run as a country park, so housing cannot be ruled out, but there would be a lot of hoops to go through because of the green belt.

“The priority is keeping it as a viable golf course.”