Anger at council's 'gobbledegook' document

9:40am Friday 26th September 2008

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LONG-TERM plans for the development of Basildon have been branded “gobbleddygook”.

The plans set out eight aims and objectives for the district to achieve between now until 2033.

They were presented to members of the tenant and leaseholder panel of St Georges Housing, the body which manages the district’s council homes.

At the meeting, at St Georges’ headquarters in Dunton Court, Laindon, one member poured scorn on the town’s Sustainable Community Strategy and called for an end to new house building in Basildon.

John MacKay, a community panel member for Lee Chapel North, said: “When you talk about regeneration, you don’t talk about building doctors’ surgeries, shops or schools.

“You go on about building more houses, because the Government have told you to.

“These are never being built in Wickford or Billericay. They are built in Basildon, which is becoming a concrete city.”

Reading through the report, Mr MacKay said: “The first few pages are gobbledegook. You don’t seem to take any notice of our suggestions.”

The eight objectives include raising educational standards, promoting community safety, developing a prosperous economy and providing homes for the future.

Steve Bird, Basildon Council’s business support manager and the man who presented the report, said he could not comment on planning principles.

He added: “The point of this item on the agenda is to co-ordinate with our local strategic partners about what is proposed.”

The strategy will now go before the St Georges Community Housing Board for final consideration.