New health centre, pool and gym for Wickford (From Echo)

New health centre, pool and gym for Wickford

7:40am Wednesday 5th September 2007 in News By Jon Austin

WICKFORD could get a brand new swimming pool, gym, health centre, library and a tree-lined public square.

Basildon Council is working with housing association Family Mosaic, which is keen to kick-start the long-awaited £120million masterplan, first touted three years ago.

The housing association wants to build 48 flats on the site of the Willow Court sheltered housing complex, in Market Road, which was demolished last year.

Money generated by this would partially fund the new public services with Family Mosaic bosses hoping to pay for the rest by gaining approval to build on other sites in that area of the town.

Basildon Council hopes to raise further funds by selling off the land which currently houses Wickford Health Centre, in Market Road. All the new services would be brought together under one roof on the site of the existing swimming pool, in nearby Market Avenue, which will be dem-olished.

Council leader Malcolm Buckley said: "This is the next stage in our plans to regenerate Wickford town centre and instil a new pride here.

"If they are approved, the plans will provide new, high-quality homes for local people and modern health, leisure and community facilities."

Ruth Osbourne, a south west Essex PCT spokesman, said: "It will be upgraded and replace all the existing services, but we hope to expand the range of public services and this will shortly go out to consultation."

The building would be the focal point of a newly-created public square, stretching across Market Avenue and Market Road.

Mr Buckley added: "This is an exciting opportunity to meet the aspirations of Wickford residents for better homes, shops and public services.

"We are delighted the plans are now on the table."

Alan Ball, chairman of Wickford Action Group, welcomed the new services, but said they were not enough to compensate for the amount of flats being built in the town.

He said: "Under the masterplan, 400 flats are agreed already and there will be 650 in total.

"A new pool is welcome, but apart from the gym it is just replacing what we already have.

"Why do we need so many flats? Where is the family accommodation? And what have we been offered for all the other flats being built? Nothing, just more traffic."

Residents can have their say on the plans at two consultation events in Wick-ford Community Centre, on September 22 and 29, from 12.30pm to 4.30pm.

Mr Ball's group will hold a public meeting, at the same venue, on Thursday, September 27, from 8pm.