Work on town centre lifts to start

Work to complete the building of the new public lifts and stairs in the Town Square will begin this Autumn.

Work by the O'Connor Group to develop Northgate House and build new lifts and stairs faltered due to the recession with subsequent negotiations with the company around completing the work proving unsuccessful.

The Council's cabinet agreed in April to complete the lifts and staircase to provide access from the Town Square to High Pavement.  The structure will house the public lifts and stairs to High Pavement. The structure will be able to be extended in the future and thus allow for the future expansion and development of Northgate House.  Councillors have also agreed to use all possible means to recover its costs from the O'Connor Group in completing the work.

Detailed work has been going on behind the scenes with a team of Basildon Council staff, designers, engineers and trade contractors.  Site enabling works are under way, with final off site design and fabrication in hand. The commencement of the first phase of steel work should start in September with the main works completed by early December and final operational checks on lifts in January.

Councillor Stephen Horgan, Deputy Leader of the Council, says:  "This situation has gone on for too long now. We have been negotiating hard for the developer to complete the work, but we cannot allow a permanent building site in Basildon Town Centre to impact on the look and vitality of our largest shopping centre. We have to act and I look forward to this work being completed by early 2010. "

Councillor Phil Turner, cabinet member for resources, says:  "Residents have been very patient, and have put up with this for too long.  This is why we have decided to act and complete the work ourselves, which will greatly improve the look of the area, rid the area of the hoardings once completed, and give better access to High Pavement.   We will also seek to recover the costs to the Council of any work."