Benfleet councillor calls for new housing estate off A127

6:10pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News

Suggestion – councillor Andrew Sheldon by the Blinking Owl Cafe on the A127 Suggestion – councillor Andrew Sheldon by the Blinking Owl Cafe on the A127

A NEW housing estate should be built on fields off the A127 to protect other parts of Castle Point’s green belt, a councillor is suggesting.

Andrew Sheldon, Tory borough councillor for Benfleet ’s St Mary’s ward, says land behind the Blinking Owl Cafe the A127 would be the ideal place for a housing estate.

He claims the site, right on the edge of the borough’s boundary with Basildon , could accommodate the 200 homes the Government says must be built in the next five years.

Mr Sheldon said: “I believe the option of creating a new model village at the northern tip of our borough to meet our housing needs deserves the utmost and thorough consideration.

“It could save the Dutch Village and Daws Heath, as well as Jotman’s Farm, in my ward, and strengthen the council’s hand in defending Glebelands – all at the same time.

“Not only is it big enough to meet all of our possible housing needs, once it was built, and even while it was being built, it would hardly affect the rest of the borough at all. If designed properly, it could be a beautiful village to retire to or to start a family in.”

Castle Point Council is in the process of creating a new local plan, setting out where homes should be built over the next 15 years. The previous development strategy was scrapped in September after overwhelming opposition from residents, who opposed new homes in the green belt.

Earlier this month, the Echo reported council discussions about plans to build as many as 200 homes in the borough over the next five years – with five potential green belt areas in its sights.

Council officers will make their final recommendations on where the extra homes should go/Mr Sheldon said if he did not agree with their recommendation, he would consider spending his own money on an independent professional planning consultant to assess the number of new homes needed and compile a formal critique.

He added: “I became a councillor so I could do all I could to ensure Castle Point remains a green and pleasant place to live.

“I believe this site on the A127 could save the treasured and open green spaces around our community.”

Comments (18)

6:20pm Mon 10 Sep 12

jolllyboy says...

I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon.
I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon. jolllyboy

6:33pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Brunning999 says...

People need to live somewhere, why not there it is less problematic than anywhere else in Castle Point.
People need to live somewhere, why not there it is less problematic than anywhere else in Castle Point. Brunning999

6:59pm Mon 10 Sep 12

John T Pharro says...

The previous plan was not kicked out because of opposition to building on green belt, it was kicked out because the majority of the builds were on Canvey Island. Which still seems to be the policy of the Tory majority Councillors having just passed outline permission for 600 houses on Thorney Bay. 200 in comparison looks positively few next to that.
Still never mind Curbushley will wade in with his usual insulting "pig ignorant" comments when he reads this. He after all is, well who?
The previous plan was not kicked out because of opposition to building on green belt, it was kicked out because the majority of the builds were on Canvey Island. Which still seems to be the policy of the Tory majority Councillors having just passed outline permission for 600 houses on Thorney Bay. 200 in comparison looks positively few next to that. Still never mind Curbushley will wade in with his usual insulting "pig ignorant" comments when he reads this. He after all is, well who? John T Pharro

7:03pm Mon 10 Sep 12

God Almighty says...

There are certainly worse places to build in CP but we shouldn't have to build any new homes, the UK population has increased by a third since WW2 but CPs population has trebled in the same period.
There are certainly worse places to build in CP but we shouldn't have to build any new homes, the UK population has increased by a third since WW2 but CPs population has trebled in the same period. God Almighty

8:53pm Mon 10 Sep 12

whataday says...

~Castle Point already over populated, full of cars and pollution from petro chemical terminals, and landfill sites along the estuary.
Cleaner air in London now
~Castle Point already over populated, full of cars and pollution from petro chemical terminals, and landfill sites along the estuary. Cleaner air in London now whataday

8:53pm Mon 10 Sep 12

whataday says...

~Castle Point already over populated, full of cars and pollution from petro chemical terminals, and landfill sites along the estuary.
Cleaner air in London now
~Castle Point already over populated, full of cars and pollution from petro chemical terminals, and landfill sites along the estuary. Cleaner air in London now whataday

10:17pm Mon 10 Sep 12

saarfender says...

jolllyboy wrote:
I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon.
If it gets any worse than it currently is, you won't know you've left central London to enter Southend.



As for building near the Blinking Owl... has the Councillor considered transport links, sewerage, electricity, schools, jobs, etc; or is he simply thinking about housing? I seem to recollect Castle Point rejecting housing in that area in the past due to unsustainability of all those essentials....
[quote][p][bold]jolllyboy[/bold] wrote: I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon.[/p][/quote]If it gets any worse than it currently is, you won't know you've left central London to enter Southend. As for building near the Blinking Owl... has the Councillor considered transport links, sewerage, electricity, schools, jobs, etc; or is he simply thinking about housing? I seem to recollect Castle Point rejecting housing in that area in the past due to unsustainability of all those essentials.... saarfender

10:38pm Mon 10 Sep 12

APR says...

Andrew Sheldon doesn't look old enough to know much about the area.
Andrew Sheldon doesn't look old enough to know much about the area. APR

7:45am Tue 11 Sep 12

Ian P says...

Now be fair, it is rumoured that he has shaved twice. They used to say you know when you are getting old, when Policemen look young. It must be the same with Councillors.
Now be fair, it is rumoured that he has shaved twice. They used to say you know when you are getting old, when Policemen look young. It must be the same with Councillors. Ian P

11:25am Tue 11 Sep 12

Eric Whim says...

saarfender wrote:
jolllyboy wrote: I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon.
If it gets any worse than it currently is, you won't know you've left central London to enter Southend. As for building near the Blinking Owl... has the Councillor considered transport links, sewerage, electricity, schools, jobs, etc; or is he simply thinking about housing? I seem to recollect Castle Point rejecting housing in that area in the past due to unsustainability of all those essentials....
I'm sure they'll be pencilling in plans for a school and a couple of nice green spaces in order that, at a later date, they can sell those off for development.

Got to have a contingency plan for when they spend all of the pies and ale fund and need new pocket linings after all
[quote][p][bold]saarfender[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]jolllyboy[/bold] wrote: I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon.[/p][/quote]If it gets any worse than it currently is, you won't know you've left central London to enter Southend. As for building near the Blinking Owl... has the Councillor considered transport links, sewerage, electricity, schools, jobs, etc; or is he simply thinking about housing? I seem to recollect Castle Point rejecting housing in that area in the past due to unsustainability of all those essentials....[/p][/quote]I'm sure they'll be pencilling in plans for a school and a couple of nice green spaces in order that, at a later date, they can sell those off for development. Got to have a contingency plan for when they spend all of the pies and ale fund and need new pocket linings after all Eric Whim

11:28am Tue 11 Sep 12

andyh says...

One question is precisely wht does the Councillor mean by "land behind the Blinking Owl Cafe the A127"?
The land immediately behind the cafe is the Lychgate industrial estate where there is a whole collection of small businesses - a friendly community. That land could just about take 200 homes at the modern "rabbit-hutch" housing density but is terribly placed for access to schools and healthcare facilities. It's access to the A127 is also somewhat hazardous and difficult to improve.
Alongside to either side is green space (woodland and fields) - again either side could take 200 homes but would have the same access problems (and developers really wouldn't want to be adjacent to a "scruffy" industrial estate).
Further back is the Fane Road / Burches area - sort of like plotland with large plots and full of the sort of people who would be likely to fight the council every inch of the way. (it is also just about the only large area of quiet countryside to ride or cycle in CP). This would really want its main road access to come off the A130 / A1245 roundabout and is better suited to a larger development than just 200 houses - one big enough to support a school, a surgery, and some shops.
Perhaps it would make sense to build a new small town in three of the four quadrants off the Fairglen roundabout totalling roughly a 1Km radius - but this would require three councils to cooperate … some hope!
(but it would enable all three to meet their housing targets)
One question is precisely wht does the Councillor mean by "land behind the Blinking Owl Cafe the A127"? The land immediately behind the cafe is the Lychgate industrial estate where there is a whole collection of small businesses - a friendly community. That land could just about take 200 homes at the modern "rabbit-hutch" housing density but is terribly placed for access to schools and healthcare facilities. It's access to the A127 is also somewhat hazardous and difficult to improve. Alongside to either side is green space (woodland and fields) - again either side could take 200 homes but would have the same access problems (and developers really wouldn't want to be adjacent to a "scruffy" industrial estate). Further back is the Fane Road / Burches area - sort of like plotland with large plots and full of the sort of people who would be likely to fight the council every inch of the way. (it is also just about the only large area of quiet countryside to ride or cycle in CP). This would really want its main road access to come off the A130 / A1245 roundabout and is better suited to a larger development than just 200 houses - one big enough to support a school, a surgery, and some shops. Perhaps it would make sense to build a new small town in three of the four quadrants off the Fairglen roundabout totalling roughly a 1Km radius - but this would require three councils to cooperate … some hope! (but it would enable all three to meet their housing targets) andyh

11:33am Tue 11 Sep 12

andyh says...

saarfender wrote:
jolllyboy wrote:
I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon.
If it gets any worse than it currently is, you won't know you've left central London to enter Southend.



As for building near the Blinking Owl... has the Councillor considered transport links, sewerage, electricity, schools, jobs, etc; or is he simply thinking about housing? I seem to recollect Castle Point rejecting housing in that area in the past due to unsustainability of all those essentials....
Electricity must surely not be a problem in that area given its proximity to that major distribution station! Nor is there any area in CP with better potential for road access. The others are soluble problems for a large scale development but almost certainly impractical for a 200 home estate.
[quote][p][bold]saarfender[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]jolllyboy[/bold] wrote: I think we have enough building alongside the 127 already thanks. Entering Southend is going to look like entering central London soon.[/p][/quote]If it gets any worse than it currently is, you won't know you've left central London to enter Southend. As for building near the Blinking Owl... has the Councillor considered transport links, sewerage, electricity, schools, jobs, etc; or is he simply thinking about housing? I seem to recollect Castle Point rejecting housing in that area in the past due to unsustainability of all those essentials....[/p][/quote]Electricity must surely not be a problem in that area given its proximity to that major distribution station! Nor is there any area in CP with better potential for road access. The others are soluble problems for a large scale development but almost certainly impractical for a 200 home estate. andyh

4:20pm Tue 11 Sep 12

marshman says...

Yeah. That'll solve everything won't it.

Stupid boy.
Yeah. That'll solve everything won't it. Stupid boy. marshman

11:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12

APR says...

Does Tony Rust still own that land, including the industrial estate. As well as living next to the Blinking Owl?

Or am I thinking of the wrong person ?
Does Tony Rust still own that land, including the industrial estate. As well as living next to the Blinking Owl? Or am I thinking of the wrong person ? APR

11:36pm Tue 11 Sep 12

andyh says...

APR wrote:
Does Tony Rust still own that land, including the industrial estate. As well as living next to the Blinking Owl?

Or am I thinking of the wrong person ?
Yes
[quote][p][bold]APR[/bold] wrote: Does Tony Rust still own that land, including the industrial estate. As well as living next to the Blinking Owl? Or am I thinking of the wrong person ?[/p][/quote]Yes andyh

2:04pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Battle of Benfleet says...

Ian P wrote:
Now be fair, it is rumoured that he has shaved twice. They used to say you know when you are getting old, when Policemen look young. It must be the same with Councillors.
Andrew may be young but he is willing to put his money where his mouth is , literally! Are you?

He is passionate about politics and passionate about Castle Point. He is a young man with conviction. We may not always agree with everything he says or does but at least he is being pro-active. No one wants to see development on Green Belt. certainly not me. However, the sad truth is that if we can't come to some agreement the Borough will have housing numbers forced upon us by the Government. It won't matter how much we protest (And believe me, I've done my fair share of that) So, give the guy a break and cease with the wise cracks. He deserves a little credit for getting off his backside and doing something. There are plenty of Councillors who haven't got a clue what day of the week it is (You know who you are)!
[quote][p][bold]Ian P[/bold] wrote: Now be fair, it is rumoured that he has shaved twice. They used to say you know when you are getting old, when Policemen look young. It must be the same with Councillors.[/p][/quote]Andrew may be young but he is willing to put his money where his mouth is , literally! Are you? He is passionate about politics and passionate about Castle Point. He is a young man with conviction. We may not always agree with everything he says or does but at least he is being pro-active. No one wants to see development on Green Belt. certainly not me. However, the sad truth is that if we can't come to some agreement the Borough will have housing numbers forced upon us by the Government. It won't matter how much we protest (And believe me, I've done my fair share of that) So, give the guy a break and cease with the wise cracks. He deserves a little credit for getting off his backside and doing something. There are plenty of Councillors who haven't got a clue what day of the week it is (You know who you are)! Battle of Benfleet

2:23pm Wed 12 Sep 12

CALL ME CLINT says...

@ Battle of Benfleet who wrote:

"Andrew may be young but he is willing to put his money where his mouth is , literally!"

Could you expand on that? I wouldn't trust anyone who puts coinage or notes in or around their mouth to represent me.
@ Battle of Benfleet who wrote: "Andrew may be young but he is willing to put his money where his mouth is , literally!" Could you expand on that? I wouldn't trust anyone who puts coinage or notes in or around their mouth to represent me. CALL ME CLINT

1:53pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Battle of Benfleet says...

Call Me Clint-

Really Clint. I have very little inclination to expand on this or anything else for that matter.

The details (If you are interested ?) are in the body of the article.
Call Me Clint- Really Clint. I have very little inclination to expand on this or anything else for that matter. The details (If you are interested ?) are in the body of the article. Battle of Benfleet

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