ANXIOUS council workers are still waiting to hear their fate after it was announced 100 jobs will be axed.

Basildon Council is looking to slash 10 per cent of its workforce by March 2012 after the Government cut its funding by £2.3million.

The council said it was not in a position to say which areas of employment face cuts and workers are being kept informed about its plans at roadshows, which are being held this week.

One council worker, who did not want to be named, said: “The first I heard about it was on the news.

“It’s all a bit up in the air at the moment. No one seems to know what’s happening.”

Another said: “We all knew cuts were going to be made, but it doesn’t stop you getting worried.

“They’re saying they will try to avoid redundancies and do it through things like not replacing jobs when people leave, so hopefully things won’t be too bad.”

The manager of Basildon Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Adrian Strowger, said no council workers had visited the bureau since the announcement, but his staff would offer support and advice to anyone made redundant. Phil Rackley, deputy leader of Basildon’s opposition Labour group, said: “The Government has, in our view, unnecessarily cut the amount of money the council gets from grants and the council has to fund the £2million taken from it.

“My view is the priority must be given to protecting local services, and that includes protecting local jobs.”

Geoff Williams, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “We’re aware cuts are necessary and that cuts will have to come in the workforce, as that takes the biggest share of the expenditure.

“I would hope the majority, if not all, cuts will be made by not replacing jobs and early retirement, without having to make redundancies.”