David Arnold, Billericay & Wickford Gazette 13 June 2007
Also in Yellow Advertiser, 14 June and Billericay & Wickford Recorder 15 June 

"This will bring Wickford into the 21st Century"

A SWIMMING pool and better health facilities are top of the council's shopping list for Wickford after it was revealed interest in its £100millon redevelopment is growing across Europe.
   Basildon council is in talks with several private sector developers over its master plan for the town.
   The plan includes proposals for affordable housing, a fitness suite, a library and a health centre as well as a brand new swimming pool.
   Cllr Stephen Horgan, cabinet member for regeneration and green issues, said: "Wickford High Street lets down the rest of the place - it looks like it has been dropped in from somewhere else.
   "The health centre is absolutely central to these proposals.
   "At the moment people are crammed into doctor's surgeries so this would ease those worries.
   "Affordable housing has been a controversial issue but there are not really any alternatives.  It's so difficult for young people to get on the housing ladder these days."
   A plan for Wickford town centre was approved last year and identified six development zones, with investment in the community and health facilities.
   "The council now has to go through a European tendering process which can be lengthy, but it is believed that things are moving quickly.
   Cllr Horgan said: "The selection of a development partner will ensure the new infrastructure we now need is delivered and we have had a lot of interest."
   Leader of the council Cllr Malcolm Buckley said: "There has been some cynicism around these proposals but this will bring Wickford into the 21st Century - it's a win-win situation.
   "The new health facility will be energy efficient to run and the primary care trust is our highest level of priority at the moment."

Wickford Action Group Comments

The council have clearly set up a press campaign on this - it appeared in all the local papers.

It seems rather late in the day to search for a Strategic Partner, when we are already well into the Master Plan, with 2 major tower blocks already approved. The Riverside Place development will have 173 flats, and the recently approved 5 story block on Runwell Road has 84. This is almost 40% of the total in the Master Plan (latest figure we have is 650, but it changes all the time). 

Councillor Horgan has stated on a number of occasions that "Wickford is seeing major development of blocks of flats in a fairly uncontrolled manner, which is why there is a Master Plan for Wickford". The trouble is Mr Horgan, applications for blocks of flats are coming through relentlessly, despite the Master Plan, and some are even being passed by the council, offering nothing for the people of Wickford in terms of improved infrastructure.