(No, you're not seeing things - this is Billericay not Wickford - WAG note)

David Arnold, Gazette, 20 June 2007

NOW is the time for Billericay residents to have their say and influence development of the town.
   Town councilors have set up a working party to look at the future growth of the town and have now formed the Billericay Design Statement Association which will give residents the chance to say how the town should move forward.
   Basildon council cabinet member for regeneration Stephen Horgan said that development in Billericay hasn't been as severe as in neighbouring 
areas as it has a more settled community so any changes in the future will be made at a slower pace.
   He said: "Billericay looks much better than Basildon, Pitsea and Wickford. In terms of development there has been a much more conservative approach.
   "I welcome this canvassing of opinion as it is from the people of Billericay for the people of Billericay and that can only be a good thing.

"People obviously want to preserve the character of the town whilst being sympathetic to the needs to develop more housing for the youth of today"

   "Often there are competing values with these type of things with people obviously wanting to preserve the character of the town whilst being sympathetic to the needs to develop more housing for the youth of today"
   There will be an exhibition at Billericay Library, where residents can ask questions about buildings, schools, roads or other matters of concern!'
   The exhibition takes place on Thursday June 21 from 10am to 4pm, Friday June 22 from 10am to 7pm and Saturday June 23 from 10am to 4pm. Members of the working party will also field questions about the design statement plan for the town.
   Billericay development steering group chairman lan Davie said: "We don't really know what people will say at the consultation, it might be a bit 
of an eye-opener."

Area with character remains untouched

WHILE Wickford, Pitsea and Basildon are all undergoing major regeneration work the town of Billericay remains largely untouched.
   It has retained most of its Georgian and Tudor buildings, making it a pleasant if expensive place to live.
   The town also boasts Norsey Wood, a site of special scientific interest, as well as Mill Meadows nature reserve, Queen's Park country park, Sun Corner, Lake Meadows, South Green as well as a thriving High Street.
   Pitsea is not so well blessed however. The skyline at the southern end of the town is dominated by the ever busy A13.

Disrepair
   Pitsea town centre master plan was endorsed by councillors in April. 
   Wickford town centre had fallen into a state of disrepair and major regeneration work is already underway.
   The approved £110m master plan for Wickford town centre has already encouraged the building of 50 new homes, with planning permission 
granted for 200 more.
   In Basildon the introduction of the Festival Leisure Park development has been successful.
   However a strategic development partner is being sought to deliver Basildon town centre's £lbn regeneration.

Yet again Councillor Horgan, cabinet member in charge of regeneration, grabs the headlines for the care and support he bestows on the people of his own town of Billericay, whilst the rest of Basildon have to accept 'Master Plans', unable to voice their thoughts and vent their opinions. There would be no need for a Wickford Action Group if the people of Wickford were also provided with a platform to 'have a say' like their neighbours in Billericay. 

Please write to Councillor Horgan and ask him why Wickford residents have still not had a council provided public meeting about the future of our town, despite his promise to organise one at the Wickford Action Group sponsored public meeting in March this year. All we get are ad-hoc announcements to the press on already made decisions, and insulting throw away lines like 'there may be an announcement about the swimming pool - watch this space' . Don't know about you, but we're fed up with being treated like children. 

Send an email now to stephen.horgan@members.basildon.gov.uk