Castle Point Council is in talks with two companies who are preparing business plans with a view to take control of the borough's bars.

Tony Galloway, Castle Point's head of leisure services, said the council had talked through the principal of putting the bars out to tender with the companies interested in taking over the service.

He said: "We have spoken to the companies and given them background information on the project. They are preparing business plans which will be presented to us. We will then make a decision who to go with."

Mr Galloway added: "The main aim of leasing the bars out to a private company means the council won't be running services at a deficit."

Published Friday January 23, 2004

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