A million-pound bid for more spy cameras in Southend town centre is still undecided - while a Basildon housing scheme is set to receive a £13,500 CCTV grant.

The Foyer, on Basildon's Cranes Court estate, is owned by Swan Housing Association and successfully bid for the Government grant with the help of Basildon District Council.

Brian Smith, chairman of Cygnet Housing Association, part of Swan, said: "We are delighted that our bid for the CCTV cameras at Basildon Foyer has been successful and will continue the improvements that are constantly being made.

"The extra security and developing environment is welcomed by the tenants who see it as another positive step for the Foyer's future."

If successful, Southend Council hopes to use the £1.2 million grant to extend the number of eye-in-the-sky cameras in the town centre from 38 to 74.

Existing cameras have helped slash crime figures by nearly a third since they were installed three years ago.

A Southend Council spokesman, said: "We have been told by the Home Office that our bid is one which requires further information.

"We are still extremely hopeful that it will be successful and we will be providing the Home Office with all the information it needs over the coming weeks.

"The Home Office has said that there are 184 bids to a potential value of £34.8 million and a further 135 bids that need further information. Ours is included in that."

Basildon areas to miss out on the funding in this round were: Felmores neighbourhood shops; Triangle Shops, Laindon and Ballards Walk. A bid for more town centre cameras was also unsuccessful.

A Basildon District Council spokesman, said: "While we were not successful in this round, we have been very successful in the past."

The Foyer was relaunched in November when its new computer suite, communal area and resource room were unveiled.

The facilities will help many of the young single people living there carve out a new career for themselves.

Sleeping quarters have also been created so there will be a member of staff on site 24-hours a day.

The camera funding is the latest facet in a major turn-around of the estate which was once plagued by drug problems.

Urgent steps were taken to step up security on the estate after drug dealer Patrick Pinnock was savagely beaten to death for trying to sell drugs on another dealer's patch in January last year.

South Woodham Ferrers' is to receive £83, 400 of funding for town centre cameras.

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