Residents' concern for town's green lung (From Echo)

Residents' concern for town's green lung

3:00pm Thursday 26th June 2008

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CONTROVERSIAL plans to build on Barn Hall could lumber Wickford with another massive housing estate, residents have warned.

Campaigners argued Gleeson Homes's proposals for 200 homes on the green lung off Station Avenue, would pave the way for another Wick estate.

Yesterday, on the second day of a public inquiry at the Basildon Centre, residents said they feared this would be the first of a wave of planning applications as the developer owns 120-acres of the land stretching from Wickford to Runwell.

Gleeson is appealing to the Government for permission to build on Barn Hall after Basildon Council refused.

Dr Eric Scharf, an engineer from Waverley Cres- cent, Wickford, said: "You just have to go to the Wick estate to see what a concrete jungle it is.

"This development is seen as creeping urbanisation and there may be future plans by Gleeson. The proposed development is seen as a stepping stone to that."

Peter Boynes, of Station Avenue, set up Wickford North Green Action Group to combat the plans.

He said: "There is agreement for 600 new homes at Runwell Hospital and the Wickford Masterplan will deliver another 600 plus homes.

"I must emphasise the very real fears of residents, that if allowed, it would inevitably lead to subsequent applications to build on all the land which the appellants own, bringing another 48.5 hectares of urban sprawl and over development to North Wickford."

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