All flats, but still no improvements (From Echo)

All flats, but still no improvements

10:49am Tuesday 6th November 2007 in Letters

Steve Horgan seems to not understand about the Wickford masterplan (Nov 1).

Residents are not against our actual town centre being improved, what we object to is the fact that so far there is no sign of this.

My complaints are things such as commuter parking - today there is not a single space left in my road. The reason they are here is to save money and now Frasiers car park has been closed for more new flats to be built, our road is a death-trap.

Our centre car park has now been reduced in view of long-term stay spaces being allocated and fines imposed on anyone with a valid ticket for a couple of hours and still there are no mother and baby spaces available.

My son's walk to school in the past year has been a danger run due to the building of new flats in Irvon Hill Road (all still empty, despite being on the market six months or more).

Next year his school walk and education will take place next to a building site as the swimming pool is demolished and the medical centre and flats are built.

So far this is nearly all flats development - no High Street improvements.

When Wickford Action Group speaks of brightening up the centre we mean the fact there are 5ft-high weeds, graffiti, dog and bird mess, vandalism, no public toilets, no baby changing facilities, lack of affordable commuter parking, etc.

If Mr Horgan's real interest is our green fields, please find me one left not under threat in Wickford - they are all earmarked for development.

Karen Squires
Azalea Avenue
Wickford