Local businesses and council workers are pushing ahead with plans to bring a new style of town centre management to Basildon.

This is despite failing to appoint a manager for the scheme.

At an upbeat first meeting in the Basildon Council offices organisers pledged to use the money they have raised to improve Basildon's bad image for shopping and parking while seeing off the threat from Lakeside and the massive Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.

Barry Jones, town centre forum chairman and manager of Allders, said: "It had got to the stage where we had talked enough about this initiative. We have to start pressing buttons and making things work.

"Pretty soon now we will have a town centre manager on board - within the next month we will be able to make an announcement."

An executive committee will consist of the town's leading retailers, such as Boots, Savacentre, Marks and Spencer and the Eastgate Centre, together with other donors to the town centre management scheme, including representatives from Basildon Council and Basildon College.

A management committee will ensure the town is kept clean and accessible with suitable facilities.

It is hoped retailers and other businesses will co-operate in such areas as maintenance, security, first aid training and opening hours.

Mr Jones said: "Sunday opening is something very close to my heart.

"We have got two of the biggest shopping centres in Europe open on a Sunday, while here we are struggling.

"A successful town centre is a theatre - we have got to create events. This is not just about what the larger shops are doing. The smaller family businesses are what give the town character."

Lee Allam, manager of Boots, is to chair a marketing committee and promised to listen to customers' ideas.

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