BATTLEFIELD

Fight on to save land
By Peter Henn, Yellow Advertiser, 15 February 2007

These residents (front page photo) are making a stand against the proposed development of a sports ground. They fear that the land in Vista Road, Wickford, will be the site for 50 new homes.

RESIDENTS are fighting to save a Wickford recreation ground from development.
   Locals fear land at Vista Road, which is owned by Wickford Town Sports Limited, could become a site for 50 new homes.
   The company refused to comment on the proposed sale at the time of going to press.
Residents claim the land, which was owned by Essex County Council before November 2000, was left in trust by former Conservative MP Henry Burton after his death in 1947.
   They insist it should remain available to the community.
Essex County Council sold the land for just £13,500 but said it was unable to comment on any details of 'the trust' as all paperwork had been handed over at the time of the sale.
   Jean Wood, from nearby Beauchamps Drive, said keeping the site was a matter of principle.
Mrs Wood, 60, whose father Stan Caldwell was warden of the Runwell Sports club that met at the site during the 1940s and 1950s, said she felt the proposed sale was a betrayal.
   Mr Caldwell, a freelance photographer who died in 1978, had tried to buy the land off Colonel Burton's daughter shortly after his death hut the deal fell through and it was 
sold to Essex County Council.
   His daughter insisted: "The county was sold the land on the provision it would be kept, in perpetuity, for the youth of Wickford. 'That's not happening, and that's a betrayal of Colonel Burton, his daughter, my father, and all the young people in this town."
   Gordon Bradley, who has lived on Vista Drive for 35 years, said he was angry that residents had been presented with a done deal.
   The 70-year-old retired accountant said: "I just have this feeling thati when the County Council transferred the land, they did it so they wouldn't have to take responsibility if it 
was developed."
   As well as the plans to sell off the current playing fields, an application to develop green belt land for new football pitches has been submitted.