'Ditch huge masterplan!' (From Echo)

'Ditch huge masterplan!'

11:33am Monday 1st October 2007 in News By Jon Austin

WICKFORD will be without a swimming pool for 18 months under multimillion pound council regeneration plans.

The revelation came as 140 angry residents at a packed meeting unanimously rejected Basildon Council's £100million masterplan for the town's future.

People at the meeting were enraged to hear clompletely rebuilding the pool would leave swimmers with nowhere to go for so long.

A woman, in her twenties at the meeting organised by the Wickford Action Group, said: "A lot of people go twice a week. For some elderly people, it is the only exercise they enjoy. What about the schools which use it?"

Wickford Disabled Swimming Club members condemned the closure as sounding the club's "death knell".

People at the meeting said they felt they had been duped into supporting the masterplan with promises of tree-lined squares, a revamped, attractive River Crouch with a raised water level and better amenities, all of which had failed to materialise.

They were most furious about the many new blocks of flats which were being accepted by the council.

Speakers claimed they were originally told there would be 490 new homes, but this had since been increased to 600.

Action group member John Rushton said: "High-rise buildings are going to be built in the town centre.

"We have 351 flats already approved and not one of the grand, improved, facilities will be provided."

Residents ridiculed images in the masterplan document, depicting luxury riverside flats by the River Crouch, deep enough for canoeists to use. It is currently little more than a storm drain.

Action group member Derek Paffett said: "I have checked with the Environment Agency and there have been no enquiries about raising the river.

"It is not even possible, because the town is at a medium flood risk. They have misled us."

Fellow group member Alan Ball added: "They are advertising the flats in Lower Southend Road, using the same picture and when I enquired, they were still telling people it was possible."

Senior Tory councillors, including council leader Malcolm Buckley, who represents a Wickford ward, were criticised for not attending the meeting. It was left to Wickford North member Michael Mowe - the only member who did come - to promise to raise residents' concerns.

Later, Mr Buckley said: "The original plan was to build a new pool in a different location outside the town centre, but there was opposition. It means a rebuild on the current site is needed and the pool will have to close for this.

"The raising of the river level was an idea in the masterplan."

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE SAYS BUCKLEY

BASILDON Council leader Malcolm Buckley defended his failure to attend the meeting - even though he was invited six weeks ago.

Mr Buckley said he and fellow senior Tory councillors were all tied up with more important meetings.

He also sent a stark warning to campaigners that any bid to limit the number of flats being built was "futile".

He said: "It is too late to stop it.

"We won't allow the masterplan to be stopped. I would remind them of the futility of the situation.

"We are now at the stage of procuring a developer for the whole project."

Mr Buckley said the action group was effectively a political party and he would treat it as such.

He said: "They have duped some residents, but 140 out of 30,000 people in the town is not a large number.

"We will not allow them to halt the regeneration and let Wickford become another Laindon."

SCHOOL FIELD IS NOT AT RISK

A HEADTEACHER has moved to quash rumours his school playing fields could be developed as part of the masterplan.

Parents of children at Wickford Junior School, in Market Road, Wickford, near the swimming pool, said they had heard the environmental garden on the school fields might be built on.

One woman said: "I have heard there have been talks about something being built there and the headmaster is aware of it."

However headteacher Terry Flitman said: "I have seen the plans and as far as I can see, they do not impinge on the school grounds.

"I think this is just a rumour. As head, I would expect to be made aware of anything.

"I have been invited to Basildon planning group meetings, but just to be kept updated."