THE decision to delay a final verdict on a controversial housing development in Wickford has been labelled “farcical” by angry councillors and campaigners.

Basildon Council’s planning committee decided to defer an application by Keepmoat Homes for 24 homes in Radwinter Avenue.

Officers had recommended the development for approval, but the majority of the committee disagreed.

Councillors hit a stumbling block when they failed to agree on a “valid” planning policy reason to refuse the application.

They argued the 2.87 acre site was at risk of flooding from nearby Nevendon Brook, and building work would endanger water vole living on the land.

Derek Harrison, chairman of Wickford Action Group, said he believed more work needed to be done on the plans before they were approved.

He said: “It’s farcical really as a vote was held and a consensus was reached by the committee.

“The application is a sugarcoated pill, sweet on the outside but not on the inside. On the surface, it looks a good, but there are so many holes as you delve further in.

“Infrastructure in the town is not keeping pace, as there are waiting lists for schools and doctors surgeries.

“The affordable housing provision offered by the developer just wasn’t enough.

“So these should be addressed properly before anything else can be built.”

In March 2013, the council agreed to sell the land at Radwinter Avenue to a developer to fund a new public square, improved market facilities and a £2.4m gym and swimming pool refurbishment in the town.

Alan Ball, Wickford Independents councillor, sits on the planning committee. He said: “We voted against the plans for very clear reasons, it’s poor design and the fact there’s no safe way for pedestrians to walk into the town.

“There’s a flood risk with the brook, and Radwinter Avenue is quite simply a rat-run.

“I think we adjourned at the wrong time. It should have been at the end of the item. After a break, we were all of a sudden voting to defer it.

“I think the officers are just determined to push the plans through in order to bring money in for the council.”

 

PLANNING CHAIRMAN DEFENDS COUNCIL DECISION

THE chairman of Basildon Council’s planning committee defended the deferral decision. Stephen Hillier, Tory councillor for Langdon Hills, described it both as “balanced” and "fair."

He said: “The committee is perfectly in its rights to do that and I think the right decision has been reached. The application was never actually rejected, the officers recommended it for approval and we found it difficult to agree with that.

“The officers made it clear that in order to refuse an application, there need to be sufficient grounds.

“Otherwise, it is very likely the developer will successfully appeal the committee’s decision. In deferring the application, we are not accepting or rejecting it. We are simply asking for clarification on the points.”

Mr Hillier added that the break taken by the committee half way through the discussion on the Radwinter Avenue application was necessary to help members.

He added: “The break we took was deliberate and helps us to take stock of what has been said in debate and to make the right decision.

“There’s certainly no question of any back-dealing. “We are looking at this on planning issues alone, and any money the council is likely to receive as a result of the sale is ignored entirely.”