DOG lovers may be delighted at Basildon Council’s plans to invest £20,000 in building a dog agility course featuring tunnels, slaloms and ramps in a park in Bowers Gifford, but one fuming resident branded the project “ridiculous”.

Retired Margaret Robbins, 68, of Ballards Walk, Laindon, said that she felt the money could be better spent elsewhere.

She said: “I think it is completely ridiculous.

“The council have cut funding for important services, such as the Dial charity, who do so much for disabled people in Basildon, and then they spend £20,000 on a doggy playground.

“I think that it is a complete waste of time and money. Dogs don’t need an assault course, they only need a bit of grass to run around in.”

The council hopes to build the permanent course in Westlake Park, off Pound Lane, by the summer.

Kevin Blake, councillor responsible for leisure and art, said: “We wanted to provide something unique to benefit Bowers Gifford and the dog lovers of Basildon.

“There aren’t many places to walk dogs in Bowers Gifford so it just makes sense.

“It’s something a bit different, and it will provide a lot of fun for residents, and their pets.

“Some people might not like the idea of a council spending £20,000 on dogs.

“But we’ve done our research and it’s clear this is what the people wanted.”

Karen Watts, of Highlands Road, Bowers Gifford, said: “I agree that it is a lot of money for a dog agility course but Bowers Gifford doesn’t seem to get a lot from Basildon Council - the parish council always drums up the funding.

“Why not let Bowers Gifford have something for a change?”

The park was just a vast green space seven years ago but when Bowers Gifford Parish Council was created in 2010, its members vowed to spruce up the park to give the village more of a community feel.

Chairman Robert Smillie said: “Since we’ve been upgrading the park I’d say it has had about £300,000 spent on it.

“Before we began working on it the closest park was in Pitsea, and it seemed important to have something closer by. I believe open green spaces really improve the quality of people’s lives.”

Now, Westlake Park consists of an outside gym, play equipment for children, a path running around the periphery and a memorial bench commemorating the First World War.