Public inquiry into luxury flats plan (From Echo)

Public inquiry into luxury flats plan

4:50pm Tuesday 13th January 2009 in

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A PUBLIC inquiry has been called into the controversial decision to close down a postal sorting office.

Basildon Council has imposed a compulsory purchase order on the Royal Mail sorting office in Lower Southend Road, Wickford.

The move will allow Bradgate Developments to build 173 luxury riverside flats, shops and cafes in its place.

However, the decision was opposed by Wickford Action Group, a non-political organisation which believes there are already too many flats in the town.

Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for communities and local government, has now responded by calling an independent public inquiry to decide whether the order should be revoked.

Alan Ball, chairman of Wickford Action Group, said: “This is great news. It will give us a chance to bring everything out in the open.

“We will oppose the compulsory purchase order, on the grounds the proposals would be a massive overdevelopment of the site.

“Wickford already has too many flats there is no demand for, so the last thing we need is another huge development.

“We will also argue the sorting office should stay in Wickford.”

However, Malcolm Buckley, leader of Basildon Council, remains confident the inquiry will rule in the council’s favour.

He said: “I would be surprised if the decision went against us, considering how adamant the Government is for councils to build new homes and this is a perfect location.”

He insisted Wickford Action Group was “stuck in the past”. Mr Buckley said: “We call them the Wickford Inaction Group, as they oppose everything and just want to stick their heads in the sand.

“If they were to succeed in stopping this, it would undermine the Wickford Masterplan and the town could lose out on huge housing, health, and leisure improvements.

“Wickford’s town centre is in decline and the inaction group would let it whither on the vine.”