CONCRETING OVER BASILDON

Despite the reprieve to the Land North of Dry Street some months ago it is clear that English Partnerships will soon be banging on the planners' doors again with new proposals - perhaps just a modification, perhaps for fewer houses, perhaps even for more ! As part of the Local Development Plan process Basildon Council is about to "Call for Sites" for housing development: interested parties will be invited to nominate areas for development, within the framework of the council's existing greenbelt policies. This means that the Dry Street will undoubtedly be the subject of interest from English Partnerships.

October 2007

Power to the People

The local planning process - creating the Local Development Plan - will take a number of years. Until all the "i's" are dotted and all the "t's" crossed and this land is definitively protected by Green Belt status we must remain vigilant. That battle will be fought during the local inquiry processes. The case must now be built and strengthened to demonstrate the huge value of the land in natural history terms. Ultimately the land should go to a body like the Essex Wildlife Trust as a natural resource, open and accessible to the community, with the equestrian centre playing a central role in its management.

REMAIN VIGILANT !

Ruth Kelly has taken over the remit for sustainable communities.Her stance on the Dry Street land issue seems to be no different from her predecessor's.

Does the area have the capacity to absorb thousands more houses with all the pressure on transport systems, schools, medical services that it will mean ?

Quality of Life is not just a question of whether there are enough roads, enough hospitals, enough schools to meet the needs of tens of thousands of new families. It is also about a decent environment, access to countryside and fresh air. In Basildon we have a battle on our hands.

Thousands and thousands of people, local people and visitors alike, have signed petitions opposing the proposals by English Partnerships to develop the Land North of Dry Street. All three parties on Basildon District Council are now signed up to opposing development.