Use the pubs you've got - that's the angry message to developers from a leading councillor outraged at the continuing scandal of plans to convert High Street shops into pubs.

Conservative Group Leader Cllr Malcolm Buckley has spoken out after it was revealed three of Billericay's town centre pubs were up for sale.

Cllr Buckley has called on developers to look at these well established licensed premises instead of rushing to create new drinking houses in what should remain a bustling retail led town centre.

He believes those wanting to move into Billericay should grab the chance to use some of its favourite haunts instead of enraging residents with plans to convert shops into pubs or restaurants.

Cllr Buckley said: "We are constantly receiving applications for shops to be turned into pubs or restaurants, but pub chains and developers should start looking at existing pubs which are already available.

"There is a very significant feeling within Billericay that residents do not want to see additional pubs in the High Street for all kinds of reasons and also do not want to lose retailers.

"With these three pubs up for sale there is clearly scope for companies and individuals to go into existing premises."

Cllr Buckley added that he was concerned residents found themselves constantly fighting applications for more pubs when the demand might already have met saturation point.

The three High Street pubs either up for sale or expected to be coming onto the market are The Crown, The White Hart and The Red Lion.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.