Dry Street campaigners ask for MP's support (From Echo)

Dry Street campaigners ask for MP's support

2:00pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Gina Marden

CAMPAIGNERS battling against plans to build 725 homes on a wildlife haven are calling for the town’s MP to get off the fence and support them.
 

Protesters say they want Stephen Metcalfe, Tory MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, to say one way or the other whether he is backing their fight to stop development at Dry Street.
 

The land was designated a wildlife site in 2005 due to its rare plants, invertebrates and protected badger populations.
 

But under plans put together by the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency, Basildon Council and South Essex College, the site would house 725 homes and provide land to allow St Luke’s Hospice, in Nethermayne, to expand.
 

The development would lead to a new £35million college campus on the site of Basildon Market, which would relocate to St Martin’s Square and housing would then also be built on the college’s current 20-acre site off Nethermayne.
 

Geoff Williams, the council’s Lib Dem leader but also a resident of Dry Street, called on the MP to “come off the fence”.
 

He said: “We do need to know where Mr Metcalfe stands.
“In the past the campaign had the support of all of our local MPs but neither of the two MPs have expressed an opinion this time.”
 

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