CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to return for a second protest outside Basildon Council’s headquarters unless action is taken to tackle homelessness in the borough.

A group of about 30 people gathered outside the Basildon Centre, in St Martin’s Square, yesterday accusing authorities of prioritising housing refugees over homeless Britons.

The council has reassured the protesters the borough will not be taking in refugees, despite having offered to house families.

The protest was organised by members of Homeless Help in Basildon, who meet weekly to hand out food and essential supplies to people sleeping rough throughout the borough.

Last week the Echo revealed up to 20 homes in Essex would be given to refugees, with two private rented homes in Basildon earmarked as possible locations.

Group member Michelle Regan, 47, from Laindon, said: “We feel that homelessness is out of hand and it just seems wrong the Government is reaching out, expecting us to be very sympathetic to those from other places.

“It has got nothing to do with race or a them and us issue, it is the principle of getting no help.

“The council has offered to sit down with us later this week, but if we don’t feel it is addressing the issue of homelessness in Basildon, we will be back for a bigger protest.”

Mandie Skeat, Basildon Council’s head of housing services, insists the Tory administration is committed to tackling homelessness.

She said: “We fully appreciate and uphold people’s right to protest peacefully on local issues they are passionate about.

“The council takes homelessness extremely seriously, and will be offering to arrange a meeting with the group concerned to talk them through how we’re tackling the problem locally.

“To clarify the current refugee situation – Basildon, like all councils across the county, has been working with Essex County Council to respond to the Government’s call for potential available housing for refugees.

“However, the outcome of this process was that Basildon would not need to make any housing available.

“We have a wide range of projects and initiatives which are specifically aimed at reducing homelessness across Basildon, and we work hard not only to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place, but also to support those who are.”