Metcalfe backs campaign against 800 homes

2:40pm Thursday 22nd November 2012 in Local News By Jon Austin

RESIDENTS fighting against a green belt housing development near Pitsea have secured the backing of MP Stephen Metcalfe.

Mr Metcalfe, the Tory MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, pledged to work with the newly formed Bowers Goffird and North Benfleet Residents’ Association to oppose plans to build 800 homes on the site of Little Chalvedon Hall, off Pound Lane.

The land wa sbought by Nottinghamshire County Council last january for more than £4million as an investment for its pension fund.

A campaign by residents has already seen the proposals dropped from 1,300 to 800 homes, but people living nearby want it kept as farmland.

Mr Metcalfe pledged his support at a meeting of the residents group in the Gun Pub in London Road, Pitsea, attended by more than 100 residents.

He said: “It was literally standing room only. It was extremely encouraging to see so many people at the meeting. It is so important that local residents have their voices heard and meetings such as this provide a forum in which this can happen.

“I understand that additional housing is needed in Basildon but I do not believe that these proposals are the answer. These proposals fly in the face of local wishes, they are against the council’s green belt policy and they will do nothing to enhance the local area. I will continue to do all I can to ensure that my constituents are heard and that their views are taken into consideration by the council.”

Meridian Strategic Land, the planning agent for the county council, has yet to release the results of a public consultation or submit a planning application, but it is understood one is being prepared.

It was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Mr Metcalfe added: “I urge local residents once again to get in touch with either me or the council about this issue. We must garner as much opposition as possible to the developments and this can only happen if residents make their opinions known. I hope that if we work together, we can reach an outcome that is beneficial to local residents and the community as a whole.”

Comments (4)

4:37pm Thu 22 Nov 12

Eric Whim says...

Bowers Goffird


where?

The land wa sbought


more poor editing/proofreading



Can he also get behind any plans to protest at the development of the green space off Ballards Walk?
[quote]Bowers Goffird[/quote] where? [quote]The land wa sbought[/quote] more poor editing/proofreading Can he also get behind any plans to protest at the development of the green space off Ballards Walk? Eric Whim

6:38pm Thu 22 Nov 12

leslog says...

too much building is and has been taking place ,without a thought for the services that have to be supplied for new residents ,all the green spaces which made the areas reasonable visually, are disappearing why are local residents views ignored
too much building is and has been taking place ,without a thought for the services that have to be supplied for new residents ,all the green spaces which made the areas reasonable visually, are disappearing why are local residents views ignored leslog

7:40pm Thu 22 Nov 12

Devils Advocate says...

Additional housing needed in Basildon? Why move all the people from the Olympic zones here and then bleat that we require additional housing ? Simple answer, Olympics gone, move people back where they were.
There are far too many Nimby's here. Basildon housing was, in many places, built with too small gardens and too many people per acre. Overcompression was helped by the areas of parkland and green spaces between the high compression housing. Now we are becoming exactly what the new town was set up to remove..... The slums of the East end! Basildon will be destroyed. Before any housing is placed anywhere in Basildon, Let us see some building work on say, South Green's green, or perhaps half of Lake meadows. Or, in the light of the Langdon hills proposal (again!) Norsey woods. Come on councils, share the dump a little more evenly, and stop building facilities that the north of the A127 want on the south side!
Additional housing needed in Basildon? Why move all the people from the Olympic zones here and then bleat that we require additional housing ? Simple answer, Olympics gone, move people back where they were. There are far too many Nimby's here. Basildon housing was, in many places, built with too small gardens and too many people per acre. Overcompression was helped by the areas of parkland and green spaces between the high compression housing. Now we are becoming exactly what the new town was set up to remove..... The slums of the East end! Basildon will be destroyed. Before any housing is placed anywhere in Basildon, Let us see some building work on say, South Green's green, or perhaps half of Lake meadows. Or, in the light of the Langdon hills proposal (again!) Norsey woods. Come on councils, share the dump a little more evenly, and stop building facilities that the north of the A127 want on the south side! Devils Advocate

4:07pm Fri 23 Nov 12

Eric Whim says...

If the Council are so set on building new homes why don't they use the land that is between Pitsea Station and the Horse and Pony Sanctuary that until recently has apparently been totally ignored by them?

There's been some Council activity over there in recent weeks.

Or maybe they could let our local ethnic minority of English Irish Travellers have it to use as a permanent site. It's got a nice fence and a gate so they could keep the hostile local whiteys out if they wanted
If the Council are so set on building new homes why don't they use the land that is between Pitsea Station and the Horse and Pony Sanctuary that until recently has apparently been totally ignored by them? There's been some Council activity over there in recent weeks. Or maybe they could let our local ethnic minority of English Irish Travellers have it to use as a permanent site. It's got a nice fence and a gate so they could keep the hostile local whiteys out if they wanted Eric Whim

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