RESIDENTS will soon be able to visit a town centre cinema for the first time in a decade after councillors gave the green light to ambitious revamp plans.

Developers have been granted permission to build a £20million cinema on the top floor of the Eastgate Centre – a month after being told to go back to the drawing board.

A cross-party group of councillors deferred their decision first-time-round because of concerns about the appearance of an eye-catching archway outside the South Gunnels entrance.

The illuminated “goalposts” were designed to help the building integrate into the rest of the town centre and show the Eastgate was open for business in the evening, but they were met with opposition.

Infrared, which bought the shopping centre in February 2014, came back with a revised scheme which scrapped the archway altogether – and the development has now been welcomed with open arms.

But it is not expected to be open until the winter of 2017.

Planning committee member David Harrison, Ukip councillor for Wickford Park, said: “The goalposts did nothing for the town centre, and were just there to display adverts in my opinion. They just wouldn’t have looked right.”

Metrobank, at the junction of East Square and South Gunnels, had previously lodged an objection because of concerns the archway would distract from its own appearance, but withdrew this when the revised scheme was drawn up.

Pat Rackley, Independent Labour councillor for St Martin’s ward, added: “I think this is very good for the people of Basildon.

“My only concern is people having to pay for parking at the Eastgate Centre, when they can park for free at the Festival Leisure Park or Lakeside.”

The cinema scheme, which also includes the creation of four new restaurants, a threestorey extension, and changes to the layout of the Eastgate Centre, is expected to kick-start the regeneration of the town centre.

Basildon Council had to put its own plans to transform East Square into a leisure quarter on hold, as it also included a cinema.

The Tory administration insists it is still committed to creating an evening economy, and is working on new plans for bars, restaurants and cafes.

A spokesman for Infrared said: “We are delighted that Basildon Council has backed our plans to improve the Eastgate Centre, and would like to thank all who have expressed their support for this initiative."