Southend Council today threatened court action against a Government department in an effort to stop the town losing millions of pounds in public money.
The council has been involved in a long running row with the Office of National Statistics over the census figures for 2001, which put the town's population at 160,000, while evidence suggests it was more than 170,000.
Despite receiving information from the council suggesting the population had increased, the ONS decided its original findings were correct.
George Krawiec, chief executive and town clerk, said the issue was not just about numbers but the loss of millions in the Government grants based on population.
He said: "In view of the evidence which we put forward, the findings of the ONS are inexplicable.
"We have asked for another meeting in August when we shall demand to know why they are not prepared to change their figures.
"I have been authorised by the council to take all steps necessary to fight this decision, even as far as going for a judicial review of the situation."
Published Tuesday July 27, 2004
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