Building flats in Basildon town centre could help fight anti-social behaviour, claims the town's would-be Conservative MP.
Developers want to convert the offices in Northgate House into flats and build another two storeys of flats above.
Tory prospective parliamentary candidate Aaron Powell said: "Introducing more residential properties into the town centre will fundamentally change its character of an evening and will go a long way to tackling some of the anti-social behaviour that we currently put up with.
"For too long Basildon town centre has seemed a no-go area for many people at night.
"With little residential accommodation and not much commercial activity, it has become a playground for some young people. A minority seem to want to trash the place, breaking the stained glass windows at St Martin's Church for example.
"Changing the character of the town centre will help to make it a place for all the residents of Basildon to enjoy."
Published Wednesday September 1, 2004
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