HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds will be spent on improvements to subways and public facilities in Pitsea.

Basildon Council say the planned improvements to Pitsea Gateway would help tackle the issues of litter, poor lighting and vandalism.

If approved by Essex County Council, the amphitheatre will be refurbished, with hard surfaces replaced and a new mural by a local artist commissioned depicting Pitsea's history and culture, according to a council report.

A meandering path through the amphitheatre is also being designed, and new signs will be installed to improve connectivity between the station and the town centre.

Lights and surfaces in the area's subways will be replaced, as will litter bins, pedestrian guardrails and a number of vandalised benches.

The improvements are expected to cost £300,000, with £100,000 being fronted by the district council.

Cllr Craig Rimmer (Con, Pitsea South-East): "It's a really exciting project, it opens up Pitsea to visitors and makes people who live in Pitsea hopefully more proud of the area as well.

"There are certain things in Pitsea that drag Pitsea down, the bingo hall being one of those."

Cllr Rimmer said the council had won a court order against the owners of the dilapidated building in High Road which used to be Pitsea Bingo Hall, requiring them to either demolish or redevelop the site.

He continued to say he hoped this, in combination with a new swimming pool and expansion of the leisure centre, along with the proposed improvements discussed at the meeting, would "elevate" Pitsea.

Cllr Jack Ferguson (Labour, Pitsea North-West) said: "It isn't the most pleasant experience at times going through either at the beginning of the day or at the end of the day, with very limited lighting, lots of litter, and just not the most welcoming part of Pitsea."

Only £100,000 of the costs will be paid for directly by the borough council, with the remaining £200,000 coming from external funding.

Cllr Rimmer said the funding gap was a "temporary issue" and there was now an expectation that the council would get to a full funding level.

The two landowners at the site, Essex County Council and London and Cambridge Properties, were consulted by officers, with the county council suggesting putting the scheme to the Essex Highways Panel.

Should this then go forward, the district council would receive further funding for the improvements.