180 protesters show up to meeting about housing development

9:37am Monday 18th February 2013 in News

180 protesters show up to meeting about housing development 180 protesters show up to meeting about housing development

A RARE type of bumblebee lives on the proposed site of 725 new homes, a public meeting was told.

About 180 people attended a meeting to fight plans for a massive housing development on meadowland at Dry Street, Laindon.

Dr Rod Cole, who was representing the Wildlife Trust, told the meeting there was a rare bumblebee on the site.

Last week, the Echo revealed that a ‘secret report’ showed a badger site could be destroyed if the development went ahead.

Basildon Council claims it decided not to make the report public because of fears about badger baiting.

Frank Last, from Essex Badger Protection Group, told the meeting at the Lee Chapel Community Centre he had been allowed to see the report but was ‘gagged’ against revealing its contents, after being told it could attract badger baiters. 

He said that he had never faced this problem with any other council and usually they come to him for advice.

He added: "I've pointed out to them in this part of Essex we don't have any badger baiting and if they did they certainly wouldn't be taking a risk so close to houses.

"The only threat to the badgers is the developers who are going to destroy their habitat."

Participants at the meeting discussed the possibility of staging a protest outside Basildon Council when the plans are heard on March 12.

Danny Lovey, GAG (Green Action Group), said he would keep in touch with residents about the protest via email.

He urged people to write letters to the Echo to “vent their frustration” and continue to send petitions to the council.

Comments (12)

9:48am Mon 18 Feb 13

j-w says...

Aren't all bees rare these days?
Aren't all bees rare these days? j-w

10:26am Mon 18 Feb 13

Eric the Red says...

Eventually, the whole of south Essex will become like London - all houses and traffic jams, with just a few parks for greenery.
Never mind - need the room for the 2014 Rumanian and Bulgarian influx.
Eventually, the whole of south Essex will become like London - all houses and traffic jams, with just a few parks for greenery. Never mind - need the room for the 2014 Rumanian and Bulgarian influx. Eric the Red

10:41am Mon 18 Feb 13

Alekhine says...

j-w wrote:
Aren't all bees rare these days?
No, there are plenty of Nimbees.
[quote][p][bold]j-w[/bold] wrote: Aren't all bees rare these days?[/p][/quote]No, there are plenty of Nimbees. Alekhine

11:30am Mon 18 Feb 13

onorris24 says...

I don't think everyone went there to protect the bees somehow..
I don't think everyone went there to protect the bees somehow.. onorris24

12:13pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Cosmo Spring says...

that won't stop the rapacious council selling off more land in order to further line their pockets and stuff their faces with ale andpies
that won't stop the rapacious council selling off more land in order to further line their pockets and stuff their faces with ale andpies Cosmo Spring

2:49pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Ironman says...

Alekhine wrote:
j-w wrote:
Aren't all bees rare these days?
No, there are plenty of Nimbees.
Some are really dangerous like that Hepatitis Bee.

I think I've seen the Dry Street ones on a plot of land in Gardiners Lane South.

Just saying.
[quote][p][bold]Alekhine[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]j-w[/bold] wrote: Aren't all bees rare these days?[/p][/quote]No, there are plenty of Nimbees.[/p][/quote]Some are really dangerous like that Hepatitis Bee. I think I've seen the Dry Street ones on a plot of land in Gardiners Lane South. Just saying. Ironman

3:28pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Alekhine says...

Ironman wrote:
Alekhine wrote:
j-w wrote: Aren't all bees rare these days?
No, there are plenty of Nimbees.
Some are really dangerous like that Hepatitis Bee. I think I've seen the Dry Street ones on a plot of land in Gardiners Lane South. Just saying.
What a coincidence. They must live near the great crested newt.
[quote][p][bold]Ironman[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Alekhine[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]j-w[/bold] wrote: Aren't all bees rare these days?[/p][/quote]No, there are plenty of Nimbees.[/p][/quote]Some are really dangerous like that Hepatitis Bee. I think I've seen the Dry Street ones on a plot of land in Gardiners Lane South. Just saying.[/p][/quote]What a coincidence. They must live near the great crested newt. Alekhine

10:40pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Lastlaugh... says...

Basildon council noted for saving the great crested common green belt................
for developers
Basildon council noted for saving the great crested common green belt................ for developers Lastlaugh...

8:13am Tue 19 Feb 13

Hickey says...

PROTECT LAND AT DRY STREET is a petition to stop the building of homes in the Dry Street area. They opposes claim that they are concerned about the local countryside and wildlife. That is not true. They have a hidden agenda: to hog Longwood Equestrian Centre, a riding school. They care more for horses than people.
They do not care about the devastating effect of homelessness. Without a home human being is denied the basics of life, like shelter; security; and hygiene. They are at an increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse; which can lead to mental disorders and physical disability. And, not least, the ability to obtain, prepare and store food. The people who support this petition are not homeless, but they do ride horses. Their Shame is to be judged.

Rebecca Parker: I don't ride at Longwood but I don't agree it should be demolished as it will be another competition venue closed. Not to mention rehoming 60 horses…

Glynis Cox: my generation.....my childrens generation ....and now my grandchildren's generation have all enjoyed competing at Longwood EC. please dont end this enjoyment for so many!!!

Olivia Smith: Longwoods been my main competition centre for a long time now,i went to my first show there. Longwood is the best place for children to start out on their ponies!

These people are real.
http://gotosign.co.u
k/protect-land-at-dr
y-street
PROTECT LAND AT DRY STREET is a petition to stop the building of homes in the Dry Street area. They opposes claim that they are concerned about the local countryside and wildlife. That is not true. They have a hidden agenda: to hog Longwood Equestrian Centre, a riding school. They care more for horses than people. They do not care about the devastating effect of homelessness. Without a home human being is denied the basics of life, like shelter; security; and hygiene. They are at an increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse; which can lead to mental disorders and physical disability. And, not least, the ability to obtain, prepare and store food. The people who support this petition are not homeless, but they do ride horses. Their Shame is to be judged. Rebecca Parker: I don't ride at Longwood but I don't agree it should be demolished as it will be another competition venue closed. Not to mention rehoming 60 horses… Glynis Cox: my generation.....my childrens generation ....and now my grandchildren's generation have all enjoyed competing at Longwood EC. please dont end this enjoyment for so many!!! Olivia Smith: Longwoods been my main competition centre for a long time now,i went to my first show there. Longwood is the best place for children to start out on their ponies! These people are real. http://gotosign.co.u k/protect-land-at-dr y-street Hickey

12:17pm Tue 19 Feb 13

SpeekinMyBranes says...

in my opinion enviromentalists are destroying our heritage!!! four words: leave the country
this is just the firs of many facts that the woolly-left have been ignoring for many years now
in my opinion enviromentalists are destroying our heritage!!! four words: leave the country this is just the firs of many facts that the woolly-left have been ignoring for many years now SpeekinMyBranes

5:37pm Wed 20 Feb 13

s00s93 says...

Hickey wrote:
PROTECT LAND AT DRY STREET is a petition to stop the building of homes in the Dry Street area. They opposes claim that they are concerned about the local countryside and wildlife. That is not true. They have a hidden agenda: to hog Longwood Equestrian Centre, a riding school. They care more for horses than people.
They do not care about the devastating effect of homelessness. Without a home human being is denied the basics of life, like shelter; security; and hygiene. They are at an increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse; which can lead to mental disorders and physical disability. And, not least, the ability to obtain, prepare and store food. The people who support this petition are not homeless, but they do ride horses. Their Shame is to be judged.

Rebecca Parker: I don't ride at Longwood but I don't agree it should be demolished as it will be another competition venue closed. Not to mention rehoming 60 horses…

Glynis Cox: my generation.....my childrens generation ....and now my grandchildren's generation have all enjoyed competing at Longwood EC. please dont end this enjoyment for so many!!!

Olivia Smith: Longwoods been my main competition centre for a long time now,i went to my first show there. Longwood is the best place for children to start out on their ponies!

These people are real.
http://gotosign.co.u

k/protect-land-at-dr

y-street
Sadly i do understand and know what it is like to be homeless from first hand experience. You are correct, homelessness is a terrible thing, no independence, no security, no future, no privacy, but the type of houses proposed for this site are prestige 4/5 bedroomed houses with double garages and landscaped gardens. If anyone local can afford to buy one of these houses then i can see no reason why they would be homeless? When the travellers at Dale Farm were evicted, were they not offered accommodation in the boarded up houses at Craylands? But they turned them down, protesting that they were travellers and did not want to live in permanent houses. Those houses are still standing, i hear the Council have no money to refurbish them so they stand empty. If homelessness is, in fact, such a dire situation then maybe the Council should reopen these houses to help out the people that need housing urgently? The Longwood Equestrian Centre is certainly NOT the hidden agena. In fact, they have apparently already been "promised" relocation. I am not opposed to house building. what i am opposed to is the sale of this land by the HCA to finance the moving of the college, plans for which have already been passed! Surely the decision on the Nether Mayne Development should have been agreed one way or the other, BEFORE the decision of the relocation of the College was made? If the Council made more use of what they already have then im convinced they would not need to encroach on more of the countryside. Just to reiterate, i really do sympathsize with your situaton, take a look around the housing estates of basildon, there are many empty properties, some are "earmarked for refurbishment" by the council, others stand empty because the developers are struggling to find people to buy them, and none of these situations are anything to do with Longwood Ec.
[quote][p][bold]Hickey[/bold] wrote: PROTECT LAND AT DRY STREET is a petition to stop the building of homes in the Dry Street area. They opposes claim that they are concerned about the local countryside and wildlife. That is not true. They have a hidden agenda: to hog Longwood Equestrian Centre, a riding school. They care more for horses than people. They do not care about the devastating effect of homelessness. Without a home human being is denied the basics of life, like shelter; security; and hygiene. They are at an increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse; which can lead to mental disorders and physical disability. And, not least, the ability to obtain, prepare and store food. The people who support this petition are not homeless, but they do ride horses. Their Shame is to be judged. Rebecca Parker: I don't ride at Longwood but I don't agree it should be demolished as it will be another competition venue closed. Not to mention rehoming 60 horses… Glynis Cox: my generation.....my childrens generation ....and now my grandchildren's generation have all enjoyed competing at Longwood EC. please dont end this enjoyment for so many!!! Olivia Smith: Longwoods been my main competition centre for a long time now,i went to my first show there. Longwood is the best place for children to start out on their ponies! These people are real. http://gotosign.co.u k/protect-land-at-dr y-street[/p][/quote]Sadly i do understand and know what it is like to be homeless from first hand experience. You are correct, homelessness is a terrible thing, no independence, no security, no future, no privacy, but the type of houses proposed for this site are prestige 4/5 bedroomed houses with double garages and landscaped gardens. If anyone local can afford to buy one of these houses then i can see no reason why they would be homeless? When the travellers at Dale Farm were evicted, were they not offered accommodation in the boarded up houses at Craylands? But they turned them down, protesting that they were travellers and did not want to live in permanent houses. Those houses are still standing, i hear the Council have no money to refurbish them so they stand empty. If homelessness is, in fact, such a dire situation then maybe the Council should reopen these houses to help out the people that need housing urgently? The Longwood Equestrian Centre is certainly NOT the hidden agena. In fact, they have apparently already been "promised" relocation. I am not opposed to house building. what i am opposed to is the sale of this land by the HCA to finance the moving of the college, plans for which have already been passed! Surely the decision on the Nether Mayne Development should have been agreed one way or the other, BEFORE the decision of the relocation of the College was made? If the Council made more use of what they already have then im convinced they would not need to encroach on more of the countryside. Just to reiterate, i really do sympathsize with your situaton, take a look around the housing estates of basildon, there are many empty properties, some are "earmarked for refurbishment" by the council, others stand empty because the developers are struggling to find people to buy them, and none of these situations are anything to do with Longwood Ec. s00s93

9:27pm Wed 20 Feb 13

thoughtfulchic says...

Hickey wrote:
PROTECT LAND AT DRY STREET is a petition to stop the building of homes in the Dry Street area. They opposes claim that they are concerned about the local countryside and wildlife. That is not true. They have a hidden agenda: to hog Longwood Equestrian Centre, a riding school. They care more for horses than people.
They do not care about the devastating effect of homelessness. Without a home human being is denied the basics of life, like shelter; security; and hygiene. They are at an increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse; which can lead to mental disorders and physical disability. And, not least, the ability to obtain, prepare and store food. The people who support this petition are not homeless, but they do ride horses. Their Shame is to be judged.

Rebecca Parker: I don't ride at Longwood but I don't agree it should be demolished as it will be another competition venue closed. Not to mention rehoming 60 horses…

Glynis Cox: my generation.....my childrens generation ....and now my grandchildren's generation have all enjoyed competing at Longwood EC. please dont end this enjoyment for so many!!!

Olivia Smith: Longwoods been my main competition centre for a long time now,i went to my first show there. Longwood is the best place for children to start out on their ponies!

These people are real.
http://gotosign.co.u

k/protect-land-at-dr

y-street
You really should do a little more research before casting your judgement over others. Firstly a very small proportion of the people at that attended that meeting are involved with the Equestrian centre and secondly these houses will not benefit the homeless in the slightest. If these were social houses or even genuinely affordable private homes I would not object nearly as strongly but these are 4/5 bedroom prestigious homes and well out of the price range of the majority of Basildons residents. There are many different reasons that people are opposed to these plans and yes the wildlife is one of them, as is concerns for strain on local schools, hospital and health services and the road network. My issues stem from the fact that certain councillors seem to deem it acceptable to ride rough shod over the wishes, beliefs and quality of life of Basildon residents. So much green space has or is already being built on, enough is enough, I believe that if these plans are passed it will be the beginning of the end of Langdon Hills. This whole development is apparently to fund the college relocation but in my opinion the problems in Basildon college go much deeper. Now they blame the building for the colleges inadequacies but I have been aware of the bad reputation of Basildon College since my older brother left school 20years ago. I feel that allowing these homes is enforcing a huge sacrifice on Basildon (the people, the wildlife and the landscape) for very little gain.
[quote][p][bold]Hickey[/bold] wrote: PROTECT LAND AT DRY STREET is a petition to stop the building of homes in the Dry Street area. They opposes claim that they are concerned about the local countryside and wildlife. That is not true. They have a hidden agenda: to hog Longwood Equestrian Centre, a riding school. They care more for horses than people. They do not care about the devastating effect of homelessness. Without a home human being is denied the basics of life, like shelter; security; and hygiene. They are at an increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse; which can lead to mental disorders and physical disability. And, not least, the ability to obtain, prepare and store food. The people who support this petition are not homeless, but they do ride horses. Their Shame is to be judged. Rebecca Parker: I don't ride at Longwood but I don't agree it should be demolished as it will be another competition venue closed. Not to mention rehoming 60 horses… Glynis Cox: my generation.....my childrens generation ....and now my grandchildren's generation have all enjoyed competing at Longwood EC. please dont end this enjoyment for so many!!! Olivia Smith: Longwoods been my main competition centre for a long time now,i went to my first show there. Longwood is the best place for children to start out on their ponies! These people are real. http://gotosign.co.u k/protect-land-at-dr y-street[/p][/quote]You really should do a little more research before casting your judgement over others. Firstly a very small proportion of the people at that attended that meeting are involved with the Equestrian centre and secondly these houses will not benefit the homeless in the slightest. If these were social houses or even genuinely affordable private homes I would not object nearly as strongly but these are 4/5 bedroom prestigious homes and well out of the price range of the majority of Basildons residents. There are many different reasons that people are opposed to these plans and yes the wildlife is one of them, as is concerns for strain on local schools, hospital and health services and the road network. My issues stem from the fact that certain councillors seem to deem it acceptable to ride rough shod over the wishes, beliefs and quality of life of Basildon residents. So much green space has or is already being built on, enough is enough, I believe that if these plans are passed it will be the beginning of the end of Langdon Hills. This whole development is apparently to fund the college relocation but in my opinion the problems in Basildon college go much deeper. Now they blame the building for the colleges inadequacies but I have been aware of the bad reputation of Basildon College since my older brother left school 20years ago. I feel that allowing these homes is enforcing a huge sacrifice on Basildon (the people, the wildlife and the landscape) for very little gain. thoughtfulchic

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