Keep Park Lodge Open
Yellow Advertiser, 28 January, 2010

UNHAPPY residents are hoping to save a local centre that faces closure.
   Park Lodge Community Hall, in Nevendon Road, Wickford, has been earmarked for demolition as part of a council-backed regeneration scheme.

Basildon Council chiefs want to revamp the site with new shops and homes.
Residents have formed an action group, protested, written letters and presented a petition to the council asking to keep the hall.
   Alan Ball, who chairs Wickford Action group, said: "The hall is well used by local people, who formed their own committee to run it and even paid around £3,000 of their cash to make some improvements because the council had neglected it for years.
   "The hall is used by martial arts and dance clubs and a toddler group," he added.
Vicki Brook, who co-runs a toddler group in the hall, said: "The local community will miss the hall if it does go.
   "Our group attracts at least 20 children and around 100 go to the dance and judo classes each week."
   Malcolm Buckley, ward councillor and cabinet member, said the regeneration scheme would benefit local people.
   He said: "The overall scheme is going to benefit many people.
   "We are aiming to replace worn-out shops and flats with a modern shopping parade and new homes,
many of which will be available for families on low incomes.
   "Unfortunately, the hall will have to come down to achieve this. It is not in good condition and not that well used.
   "We have agreed to build the new shops before the existing ones are demolished to increase numbers of affordable homes and to relocate community uses."

• Last Thursday's cabinet meeting agreed to allocate £1 million from money contributed by developers under planning agreements towards the new housing and to sell the site for development.
  Now disposal and finance have been agreed, a planning application is expected soon, which will go out for full consultation.