A TWO-YEAR search for a new site for Pitsea’s controversial Felmores bail hostel has been dismissed as “meaningless” by a councillor.

The comments came from Labour Pitsea North West councillor Gavin Callaghan, who is also the party’s parliamentary candidate for Basildon and Billericay.

Criticising the council’s efforts to move the hostel, a converted house in Littlebury Green, Pitsea, which houses high-risk offenders, he suggested officials should consider using industrial or business premises.

Mr Callaghan, also asked why the council had not realised the hostel didn’t even need to remain in Essex at all. Mr Callaghan was speaking after he joined MP Stephen Metcalfe at a meeting with Prisons Minister MP Andrew Selous.

The pair were given assurances if a suitable site could be found, the Ministry of Justice would consider it and might even put money into the move if necessary.

Reporting back, Mr Callaghan told fellow councillors: “The whole search process to date has been entirely meaningless.”

Richard Moore, Tory councillors responsible for regeneration and planning, dismissed Mr Callaghan’s comments as “electioneering”.

He added neither the Ministry of Justice, nor the Prisons Minister, had written to the council and it had been told in July no money would be available to move the hostel.