Fears for Wickford (From Echo)

Fears for Wickford

2:02pm Monday 26th March 2007 in News By Mikarla Marsden

MORE than 200 residents crammed into the Wickford's community centre to express fears about the future overdevelopment of the town.

Many cheered as the idea of a full public consultation about the Wickford masterplan was suggested by Stephen Horgan, Basildon councillor responsible for regeneration.

Alan Ball, chairman of the Wickford Action Group, who organised the gathering, is campaigning against the proposed masterplan becuse of the number of homes planned for the town centre.

He said originally the council had said there would be 500 homes built, but now it was in the region of 650 and he believes the town has not got the infrastructure to cope and most people do not want.

Mr Ball said: "The council said they had 81 per cent approval for the masterplan, which we disputed. Eight months later they came back and said they had 63 per cent for.

"We did our own survey and we say there's 80 per cent against it now.

"Yes, we need redevelopment and, yes, the town is in desperate need of updating, but we need to make sure the developers are meeting the needs of residents, not just the needs of the developers."

Fellow action group member Eric Lamb said Wickford could not handle any more traffic and currently suffered bottlenecks at both ends.

He said it takes about 20 minutes just to get out of the town and called for more wider roads to be built should any development go-ahead.

Shiela Aslett, also a member of the action group, said while she wanted Wickford updated, she was worried there was not enough infrastructure and specifically, school places.

Council leader Malcolm Buckley, deputy council leader Tony Ball, Wickford Park councillor Chris Jackman, Wickford Park councillor Don Morris and Mr Horgan were all at the gathering.

Mr Buckley, who has lived in Wickford for the past 55 years, told how he wanted it to prosper. He said: "We are determined to protect the green belt."