200 homes plan thrown out...for now

5:22pm Thursday 14th February 2008

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PLANS for more than 200 homes on a beauty spot have been thrown out by Basildon Council.

Campaigners claimed a victory after councillors said "no" to building on ten of the 100 acres of Barn Hall fields, off Station Avenue, Wickford.

Yet the fight is not over.

Residents are now shaping up for round two as developer Gleeson Homes is appealing to the Government to overturn the decision.

Peter Boyns, founder of Wickford North Green action group, spoke passionately at a council meeting which was held in Bromfords School hall, Wickford, to accommodate the 200-strong audience.

He said: "Building on Barn Hall will destroy a lovely area of countryside forever.

"It is an area of tranquil, peaceful retreat in a relatively crowded area of Essex. Generations of children have grown up here playing safely in meadows, hedges and copses."

Sylvia Buckley, chairman of Basildon Council development control committee, vowed the council would make every effort to beat the appeal.

She said: "I have every confidence in our officers.

"They will put forward a good case and councillors will also attend. I wish to retain the green fields we still have around Wickford."

Council leader Malcolm Buckley fears if the 200 homes were approved it would open the flood gates for the mass development of Barn Hall.

However, some residents blame the council for Gleeson's appeal as it failed to vote over the original application within the 13-week deadline. The legal blunder, in 2006, meant the site could not be designated green belt.

So it is currently earmarked for homes and pressure is mounting as the council is behind in its bid to meet a Government housing target of 10,700 new homes by 2011.

More than 320 residents wrote objection letters to Barn Hall plans - there were also complaints from neighbouring Chelmsford Council, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Natural England and Network Rail.

Councillor jeered for comments

A CONTROVERSIAL councillor caused outrage when he voiced his support for the development of Barn Hall.

Labour's Danny Nandanwar said Gleeson Homes' proposals were just a small development with a good mix of homes and a "breath of fresh air" to flats being built in town centres.

In contrast, fellow Labour councillor Lynda Gordon branded them outrageous and Mr Nandanwar's comments led to jeers from the 200-strong crowd.

Mr Nandanwar is no stranger to controversy.

At the previous development control meeting he argued the green belt was not sacrosanct and the council should seek to build on fields as well as in town centres.

He is also an ardent supporter of travellers remaining at Crays Hill and believes more sites should be created in the district.

However, he does oppose the application for a site at Terminus Drive, Pitsea, in his ward.

Residents shouted "rubbish" after his Barn Hall speech.

Returning to the debate, Tory councillor Kevin Blake said: "Mr Nandanwar's comments are ludicrous.

"We all know this is a trojan horse for further development."