What the Masterplan says...
"Creating a better presence and linkages to the east of the town centre by redeveloping the car park into a multi-storey development with residential and live-work uses and a new housing scheme to the east of Wickford Bypass."

The Masterplan strategy for this area
Blocks G1 and G2 are on the site of the main car park opposite Somerfields. Included is a multi-storey car park with 276 spaces, 27 residential units, and 24 live-work units. Blocks H1 and H2 are residential units on the other side of the bypass, and comprise a total of 30 units, (reduced from the original 66).

"Local squares and landscaped footpaths should be introduced in the area to present an attractive entrance into the new development and improve
permeability and connectivity between the High Street and Gibraltar Walk. Also included will be improved entrance to the Ladygate Centre incorporating shop front improvements, de-clutter of the public realm and enhanced internal courtyard."

What is actually happening?

• No planning applications have yet been submitted for this area, although just over the roundabout on the site of the Citroen garage an application has been submitted for a block of  86 flats (July 2007) 

Current situation - number of residential units
In Masterplan	Proposals	Plans in	Approved	Built	Poss. Total
81	0	0	0	0	81

The Wickford Action Group view
The extra homes in the current car park area will put more pressure on car parking, and will create more traffic at the main roundabout at the Somerfield exit / bypass, already an intimidating racetrack at peak times. This is an accident waiting to happen, and will have to be resolved before any new development is approved.

The existing car parking consists of 291 spaces in the main area, with and additional 81 reserved for local shops, a total of 372 spaces, (assuming the 96 spaces for Somerfield are not touched). These will be replaced by 51 flats and a multistorey car park with 276 spaces. Can anyone see a problem here?