Anti - Dry Street campaigners continue to fight plans

11:40am Friday 22nd February 2013 in Local News By Luke Lambert

CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to continue their fight against plans for up to 725 new homes at Dry Street in Basildon by taking up their cause with councillors.

Protestors met at the Basildon Centre in St Martin’s Square on Tuesday night and said they would write to members of the planning committee to try and stop the homes being built.

They also want to whip up support across the town in the hopes of putting together a 5,000-strong petition which would trigger an emergency Basildon Council meeting about the proposals.

Dermot Cavanaugh, Chairman of the Green Action Group (GAG) said it was vital that as many people as possible got behind the movement.

He said: “We need numbers but not only that we need people who are truly against building on one of our finest green spaces. We saw with the new college application in the town centre that the often appeals aren’t enough so we must fight to ensure we have done enough.”

The meeting also featured members of the Longwood Equestrian Centre, which will move as a result of the homes, and the Essex Badger Protection Group after a report revealed the wildlife was also home to protected badgers.

The meeting raised concerns about possible flooding at the bottom of Dry Street, traffic congestion at Nethermayne and access to Basildon Hospital for emergency vehicles as well as the overriding environmental concerns at the site.

Residents agreed the best course of action was to write to Conservative planning members Tony Hedley, Carole Morris, David Dadds and Paul Arnold.

Labour councillor Andrew Gordon, of Nethermayne ward, organised the meeting with Mr Burton-Sampson, said: “The plans haven’t been thought through but it is up to us to show how big a problem this development will cause. We all have talents and we must use them to our advantage.”

Comments (4)

1:27pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Cosmo Spring says...

If people will insit on continuing to vote a tory led council in developments like this will keep happening.
If people will insit on continuing to vote a tory led council in developments like this will keep happening. Cosmo Spring

6:20pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Devils Advocate says...

Interesting to compare the Tory Council's vote of November 2004 when they were ready to throw themselves on their bayonets to defend this land. ~If only the residents had though to put a pie bakery on that land!
Interesting to compare the Tory Council's vote of November 2004 when they were ready to throw themselves on their bayonets to defend this land. ~If only the residents had though to put a pie bakery on that land! Devils Advocate

12:44pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Mikkel1 says...

WHY are these people so insistent on RUINING the beauty of Dry Street? Or is there a pocket full of money to be had if agreed?

LEAVE DRY STREET AS IT IS!
WHY are these people so insistent on RUINING the beauty of Dry Street? Or is there a pocket full of money to be had if agreed? LEAVE DRY STREET AS IT IS! Mikkel1

3:53am Sun 24 Feb 13

gumbley says...

The Dry Street planning application will be going to committee soon. It wil be interesting to see how members vote on this. If it isn't passed then the implication is that the new college will not be built in Market Square as thats where the money will come from. One wonders how our political representatives will vote? Back in 2004 (see link below) all members of the Conservative administration voted in favour of the following motion:
This Council
1. Applauds the Conservative Administration for removing the land at Dry Street from special reserve status in the Draft Replacement Local Plan;
2. Dissociates itself from English Partnership's campaign to develop the land at Dry Street; and
3. Reaffirms its commitment to everything in its power including the allocation of the necessary financial resources to include the land in Dry Street in the Green Belt.
Four of the Conservative Councillors present and voting in favour of this application are now on the Development Control and Traffic Management Committee.
Of the Labour Councillors present and voting against this motion at the meeting only Cllr Nigel Smith is still on the Council. One wonders how people will vote now and if differently from before one asks, "What has changed?"
Link to Committee Minutes see item 560 and voting columns 4,5 & 6

http://www.basildonm
eetings.info/documen
ts/g1623/Public%20mi
nutes%2003rd-Nov-200
4%2019.30%20Council.
pdf?T=11
The Dry Street planning application will be going to committee soon. It wil be interesting to see how members vote on this. If it isn't passed then the implication is that the new college will not be built in Market Square as thats where the money will come from. One wonders how our political representatives will vote? Back in 2004 (see link below) all members of the Conservative administration voted in favour of the following motion: This Council 1. Applauds the Conservative Administration for removing the land at Dry Street from special reserve status in the Draft Replacement Local Plan; 2. Dissociates itself from English Partnership's campaign to develop the land at Dry Street; and 3. Reaffirms its commitment to everything in its power including the allocation of the necessary financial resources to include the land in Dry Street in the Green Belt. Four of the Conservative Councillors present and voting in favour of this application are now on the Development Control and Traffic Management Committee. Of the Labour Councillors present and voting against this motion at the meeting only Cllr Nigel Smith is still on the Council. One wonders how people will vote now and if differently from before one asks, "What has changed?" Link to Committee Minutes see item 560 and voting columns 4,5 & 6 http://www.basildonm eetings.info/documen ts/g1623/Public%20mi nutes%2003rd-Nov-200 4%2019.30%20Council. pdf?T=11 gumbley

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