The decision by Barclays to pull out of a massive new development in Laindon has been attacked as "criminal damage" on a beautiful site.

The Rev Nihal Paul of St Nicholas Church, Laindon, was originally against the plans to build on the corner of Upper Mayne and Nicholas Road, saying it would destroy a picturesque hillside.

He is now upset that even the consolation that the development would provide jobs has gone - and the area is now filled with what he described as a "disgusting building".

He said: "It''s disgusting, messing up this beautiful place. This is criminal damage to a green belt area.

"Whoever is responsible I hope they feel ashamed of themselves for selling this piece of land to people who have no sense of responsibility to the community.

"People like me don't know a thing about the business world but I know we are now stuck with this disgusting looking building."

He said that where you used to be able to look at the site and see a hill, all you can now see is a massive building in its place, which has not even been painted the right colour to blend in with the background.

Joyce Rutland from Church Hill, whose house is next to the development and who campaigned against the plans two years ago, was left shocked by the news Barclays would no longer be moving in.

She said: "After all this and they're not going to move in.

"It's been built now and there's nothing I can do about it, but when I collected a petition a few years ago people in Laindon told me it would bring jobs into the area, but we're not going to get any.

"I'm annoyed to think they said they were going to take on so many people when what people really need around here is houses, especially the young people."

Barclays is now to continue to complete the building, due to be finished by the end of the year, but the company has not decided if it will try to sell the building, or rent it out to another user.

But Louise Footner, spokeswoman for the company was sure that a future role for the site could be found.

She said: "We have got nothing against Basildon.

"We would like to make it very clear that Basildon Council has been excellent and have been very helpful throughout this and we will be working with them to work out the future of the building."

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Picture, top: 'Disgusting building' - Rev Nihal Paul attacked the bank's decision.

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