Laindon Centre is now rapidly falling into disrepair

7:00am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Local News By Gina Marden

Councillor Phil Rackley by one of the deep potholes in the car park at the Laindon Centre Councillor Phil Rackley by one of the deep potholes in the car park at the Laindon Centre

A SHOPPING centre hit by development delays has turned into a dilapidated eyesore according to residents.

The Laindon Shopping Centre in High Road, Laindon has now got rubbish strewn everywhere, a car park littered with potholes, unemptied and overflowing bins and hoarding which has fallen down revealing even more bags of litter.

People living near to the centre say it is increasingly becoming even more of an eyesore to look at and Colonnade the developers who own the site are near impossible to contact.

Councillors Pat and Phil Rackley – both Labour ward members for the St Martin’s ward – who live in Devonshire Road, Laindon said the dilapidated centre is looking worse by the day.

Mrs Rackley said: “It’s absolutely horrendous.

“The other week I had to go to the doctors near the centre and some hoarding had fallen down and behind it the area was full of black rubbish sacks overflowing with rubbish.

“It just looks awful.

“In recent months they stopped emptying the bins.

“We tried to speak to Colonnade, but they won’t speak to us, so the council’s officers were having to contact them.”

Mr Rackley added: “Every morning when I go to get my newspaper at the centre the bins are overflowing and are not being emptied.

“It does make one wonder what their commitment is to the redevelopment of the centre is going to be when they can’t even keep it tidy. People are fed up with it.”

Colonnade refused to comment when contacted by the Echo.

It is thought Laindon Regeneration – which is an offshoot of development firm Colonnade – plans to one day build at least 300 homes and a new shopping centre on the site, but no plans have so far been submitted to Basildon Council.

Further doubt was cast over the development’s future in 2010 when the Echo revealed Colonnade Residential and Colonnade Asset Management had gone into administration while Colonnade Projects was put into liquidation and Colonnade Commercial was dissolved.

Plans for the site first emerged in 2004, but nothing has materialised since.

Comments (6)

9:17am Wed 11 Jul 12

AndyBSG says...

"It is thought Laindon Regeneration – which is an offshoot of development firm Colonnade – plans to one day build at least 300 homes and a new shopping centre on the site, but no plans have so far been submitted to Basildon Council."

And there is your answer...

They'll let the current centre get so run down and in such a dilapidated state that when they do submit their planning permission it will be virtually guaranteed acceptance because of the current state of the area.
"It is thought Laindon Regeneration – which is an offshoot of development firm Colonnade – plans to one day build at least 300 homes and a new shopping centre on the site, but no plans have so far been submitted to Basildon Council." And there is your answer... They'll let the current centre get so run down and in such a dilapidated state that when they do submit their planning permission it will be virtually guaranteed acceptance because of the current state of the area. AndyBSG

10:25am Wed 11 Jul 12

Richy don't shine shoes no more says...

It's a shopping centre??

And there was me thinking it was a set from Full Metal Jacket
It's a shopping centre?? And there was me thinking it was a set from Full Metal Jacket Richy don't shine shoes no more

3:36pm Wed 11 Jul 12

EthanEdwards says...

Richy don't shine shoes no more wrote:
It's a shopping centre?? And there was me thinking it was a set from Full Metal Jacket
Maybe but you can't get any action there for five bucks.
Ten dollah cheap cheap......
[quote][p][bold]Richy don't shine shoes no more[/bold] wrote: It's a shopping centre?? And there was me thinking it was a set from Full Metal Jacket[/p][/quote]Maybe but you can't get any action there for five bucks. Ten dollah cheap cheap...... EthanEdwards

11:55pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Trainman says...

I am 100% GLAD I moved away from Laindon, and years ago.

ALL those responsible for the state of the 'Town' as I knew it, SHOULD be ashamed of themselves, to say the VERY least.

HOW much are they paid? IF anything, they should PAY to be held responsible, THEN things might change, and get done.

Laindon in the 1950's and early 1960's WAS a GOOD town, but no more.

As for the Councillors, I am a Parish one where I now live, but of NO political party, as I VERY strongly feel most are ALL THE SAME, and in it for their own gain, NOT the interests of those they CLAIM to be. represent.
I am 100% GLAD I moved away from Laindon, and years ago. ALL those responsible for the state of the 'Town' as I knew it, SHOULD be ashamed of themselves, to say the VERY least. HOW much are they paid? IF anything, they should PAY to be held responsible, THEN things might change, and get done. Laindon in the 1950's and early 1960's WAS a GOOD town, but no more. As for the Councillors, I am a Parish one where I now live, but of NO political party, as I VERY strongly feel most are ALL THE SAME, and in it for their own gain, NOT the interests of those they CLAIM to be. represent. Trainman

6:44pm Fri 13 Jul 12

gumbley says...

For about the last 10 years or so hopes have been raised and then dashed as far as redevelopment is concerned. The site has a planning permission which is out of date. We were promised movement years ago by Laindon Regeneration (Part of Colonnade) nothing has happened and it seems that the owners are content with letting the Centre continue to go to rack and ruin. Progress as far as Morrisons and their agents is very slow to say the least, I'm not surprised as given Colonnades' history Morrisons are probably wary about doing a deal with this company. In the meantime the public and the traders have to suffer. Maybe the Council ought to be a bit proactive in all of this! Could they look at the possibility of Compulsory purchase?
For about the last 10 years or so hopes have been raised and then dashed as far as redevelopment is concerned. The site has a planning permission which is out of date. We were promised movement years ago by Laindon Regeneration (Part of Colonnade) nothing has happened and it seems that the owners are content with letting the Centre continue to go to rack and ruin. Progress as far as Morrisons and their agents is very slow to say the least, I'm not surprised as given Colonnades' history Morrisons are probably wary about doing a deal with this company. In the meantime the public and the traders have to suffer. Maybe the Council ought to be a bit proactive in all of this! Could they look at the possibility of Compulsory purchase? gumbley

1:02pm Tue 31 Jul 12

lesliejack says...

It is so sad, Laindon was a vibrant shopping centre with over 100 shops on the High Road, all demolished now, and for what?? A concrete eyesore of no use to anyone.
It is so sad, Laindon was a vibrant shopping centre with over 100 shops on the High Road, all demolished now, and for what?? A concrete eyesore of no use to anyone. lesliejack

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