Wickford Action Group fail to dislodge Tory over homes plan
By JON AUSTIN Political reporter, Echo 2 May 2008

A PROTEST group which vowed to remove the sitting Tory councillor in Wickford North by campaigning on a single issue failed to deliver, but came a close second.
   Tory councillor Carole Morris held the Wickford North seat with 1,250 votes from independent candidate David Harrison who polled 974.
   Mr Harrison, who represented the Wickford Action Group, still beat BNP, Lib Dem and Labour candidates by significant margins. The action group is campaigning against the Tory administration's masterplan for Wickford claiming it will over develop the town if the proposed 700 new homes will are built.
   The group maintained it was non-political throughout the election and campaigned solely on the masterplan issue.
   Action group chairman Alan Ball said: "Our vote held up as we took 34 per cent of the vote, which was up on last year. This sends a clear message to the Tories and we will carry on campaigning against the masterplan."
   Council leader Malcolm Buckley said voters had endorsed the masterplan.

Comment from the Wickford Action Group

The Wickford North election was fought by David Harrison on totally local issues - and his share of the vote increased from last year.
Last year Michael Mowe ( Con) 1592 53% of the Vote
David Harrison (Ind) 1021 33% 
Chris Wilson (Lab) 409 14%

This Year Carole Morris (Con) 1250 43% of the Vote
David Harrison (Ind) 974 34%
Anthony Gladwin (BNP) 289 10%
Chris Wilson (Lab) 230 8%
Michael Woods (LD) 154 5%

As can be seen despite a National ground swell against Labour in Wickford North the Conservative percentage was cut and they actually won with a minority, less than 50%, for the first time in ages.

Wickford North was actually the Conservatives poorest display in winning a seat.
The sad thing is that a seat is winnable in Basildon with 500 votes - yet just under a thousand in Wickford is a losing score! 

And Malcolm Buckley says that voters have endorsed the Masterplan. 

What planet is Malcolm Buckley living on? 
Lets hope we can send him back there next year!