Southend could become a haven for hooligans if borough patrol wardens are axed in a cost-cutting drive, it was feared today.
The borough patrol, which tackles public nuisances like dog fouling, graffiti and yobbish behaviour has had its budget halved to £140,000 as part of Southend Council's funding crisis.
Leigh councillor Peter Wexham today said secret plans to merge the wardens with a new team of police community support officers (PCSOs) would leave the town in a mess.
He said: "Essex Police have got a £6million deficit, they don't have any money to put into this kind of project.
"Their focus will be putting PCSOs on Southend High Street and we won't have anyone patrolling the estates and suburbs to enforce bylaws, which is why the borough patrol was introduced."
The allegations were quickly dismissed as "mistaken" by Ann Holland, executive councillor for environmental and public protection.
She claimed warden funding stemmed almost entirely from council tax except for an EU scheme which sees select individuals undertaking the warden training scheme.
Published Monday January 12, 2004
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