THE idea of a new Brentwood town council is gathering pace, with supporters of the plan set to meet next month to further discuss the idea.

Resident and former Brentwood borough councillor Mike Le-Surf first floated the idea in October after criticising the condition of the town centre, and calling for action to address the “neglect”, including the ongoing saga of William Hunter Way.

The former Labour councillor has laid into the Tory administration, and said their “failure to act” has left part of the town centre “an eye sore”.

Mr Le-Surf was among a group of councillors from various parties who spent 2014-15 leading the borough council before the Conservative group won back control in May.

He said: “I was born in the town centre and life for residents has changed beyond recognition since there was a cinema and a Woolworth in the high street. “The town centre is being overdeveloped by the Conservative run council and local people are feeling the pressure.

“William Hunter Way is an eyesore and residents in Brentwood North and South are being treated as second class citizens compared to those living in other areas of the borough. We have had enough."

Fellow resident Gerry Bender supports the idea of a new council.

He said: “Over the years Brentwood Town Centre residents have experienced firsthand the excesses of the planning system and the local council’s inability to protect the residents from unrestricted development.

“Residents look to Ongar and Billericay who have Town Councils and locally to the Parish Councils, as to what can be achieve through local communities working together.”

The meeting is set to take place at the Spread Eagle pub, in Queens Road, on Wednesday, December 9 at 7pm