Jon Austin, Political Reporter, Echo, 7 June 2007

RESIDENTS are furious that plans for a huge flats complex branded "monstrous" have been approved on appeal.
   Butie Ltd has been granted permission by the Government planning inspectorate to build a five-storey tower block of 84 flats with ground-floor restaurants and shops in Runwell Road, Wickford.
   Residents, who fought the project on grounds of overdevelopment, are appalled and feel it has been passed without them having their say.
   Butie was first refused permission by Basildon Council in August last year. It appealed and asked for a hearing by written correspondence.
   A second similar planning application was turned down earlier this year. Butie appealed and residents were gearing up to fight the plans it a public inquiry on June 12. However, Butie has now won the first written appeal and withdrawn the inquiry.
   Reg lles, president of the Wickford Lawn Tennis Association, which is right next to the site, said: "We heard the appeal had been withdrawn and thought it was good news, but further enquiries with the council found the first had gone through without a hearing and we were unable to make representations."
   Alan Ball, chairman of Wickford Action Group, added: "It seems like it has been passed through the back door. We thought the council was dead against it and would have wanted a full hearing." Both applications were panned by members of he development control committee, who threw them out.
   Council leader Malcolm Buckley admitted he did not like the proposal, but said he was not against the principle of the type of development and said it would not compromise the £100million master-plan for the town.
   Council spokesman Ray Mckay said: "It is the applicant's decision on the type of appeal hearing. "The council could object, but it would have to be backed by good reasons which did not exist."
   The firm and its agent, Denis Tyson Associates, from Romford, were unavailable for comment.

The residents of Wickford feel that they have been 'stitched up' by the approval of this tower block, but we are not clear who has done the stitching.

The councillors say they are opposed to it, and indeed it was originally refused permission, BUT the chairperson of Basildon Council's planning committee, Mrs. Buckley voted FOR it.

Council leader, Malcolm Buckley said 'he did not like the proposal, but said he was not against the principle of the type of development and said it would not compromise the £100million master-plan for the town.' So, where exactly do you stand Malcolm? Are you in favour of this monstrous tower block or not?

The developers, Butie Limited, were not surprisingly 'unavailable for comment', since the company isn't registered - how can this possibly be allowed? Repeated requests to the council have failed to reveal the identity of this mysterious non-registered company. Does this sound right to you?

If YOU can add any information to help reveal the identities of the people involved in this scam, please let us know. If you like this can be in complete confidence - email mail@WickfordActionGroup.org.uk.