TWO local community centres are being refurbished, with Basildon Council spending more than £10,000 on the projects.

Laindon Community Centre car park, which has been a "problem for quite some time", will be resurfaced, with the council awarding £4,584 to the project.

Works are also underway to revamp the back part of the centre, bringing it back into use and allowing more groups and clubs to utilise more of the centre.

Council documents state the works "would enable the centre to improve the condition of the car park, ensuring that it is safe for all its users." 

Lee Chapel North Community Centre is also set to have new flooring laid in the main hall, with the council funding £4,050 towards the project. It comes after the centre had repairs carried out to the "leaky" roof and had new radiators installed, which was also funded by the council. The roof repair cost £700 and the new radiators cost £1,250.

The money will go "towards urgent repairs to the main hall flooring, which has deteriorated and is in need of relaying to ensure safety and continued use of the facility", according to council papers.

Councillors and officers discussed the plans at a meeting of the Laindon and Lee Chapel North area committee on November 11. 

Commenting on the works at the Laindon Community Centre, Councillor Terry Webb, told the meeting: "I have seen that area for myself, and I think members here have probably been to the site and visited it, and it has been a problem for quite some time, that car park.

"I understand they've already done some DIY patchwork to some of the problem holes, but that obviously won't be sufficient for a more long-term remedy." 

Speaking of the Lee Chapel North Community Centre works, a council officer said: "The area committee allocated them £6,000 earlier in the year, to install some new radiators and mend a leaky roof.

"The repairs on the roof came in considerably under budget, there was a £4050 spend under budget, so they're requesting to utilise this underspent to mend the hall floor, which is in disrepair, and the remaining £1937 will be covered by the community hall association."