ONE of the lynchpin programmes of Basildon's ousted Labour-Independent alliance is about to the downgraded – and may even be scrapped altogether.

The fate of the £8.4million Youth Zone planned for the town centre hangs in the balance after a Tory takeover of the council in last week's elections.

Planning permission has been agreed for the new centre, which to be run in conjunction with leisure firm Onside who were committed to pumping £4.4 million to the project.

The council had committed to contributing £4.1 million but the Conservatives don't share that vision and it seems will pull the plug on financing.

Pitsea councillor Craig Rimmer said: "The youth zone needs £4million of council investment, that money needs to be spread across the town.

"If Onside want to pay for the whole scheme, then we are happy to go ahead. Concerns have always been raised about the accessibility getting into the town centre from elsewhere."

The Tories also seem set to scrap the previous administration's plans to redevelop social housing in the town centre.