Background
 The three acre playing field in Southend Road was left in trust to the youth of Wickford by
Colonel Henry Walter Burton, right, who died in 1947, but it was later acquired by Essex County Council.
In 2000, Wickford Town Youth FC (WTYFC) and the Rotary Club
worked with the county council to buy the field through the Discretionary Assisted Purchase
Scheme, assisted by the county council with a grant.
(picture of Colonel
Burton courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery)
This was reported in the Recorder
on 19th December 2000, but the picture ('Happy: Tony Silk, chairman of Wickford Town Football
Club') was unfortunately not included in the archived Recorder article!
Following the planning
applications in December 2006, many people in the area were devastated
to think that the piece of land left in trust to the people of
Wickford, was going to be sold off for housing. One resident, Michael
Hill, had a letter in the Echo on 3rd January,
and Tony Silk replied to this with another letter on 19th January answering
criticisms, read it and judge for yourself!
The Wickford Action Group
view:
The planning
meeting on 25th September was an emotional affair. About 80 residents
filled the public seats, with about a dozen boys and girls in football
kit among them. Residents around the two sites spoke passionately about
the loss of the open spaces and put together many strong arguments, all
in line with planning guidelines. The football club was also well
represented, and they are clearly dedicated public spirited people who
only want to provide a great facility for the youth of Wickford. It made
for a difficult decision by the councillors, who eventually came down in
favour of the plans.
We in the Wickford
Action Group feel that they made the wrong decision.
(and one incidentally, that makes
a mockery of their stance on the Barn Hall development) Our reasons
for this view are:
The proposed sports
complex looks good on paper. One of the problems is the existence of 4
electricity pylons, 2 right in the middle of the proposed playing areas,
and some residents are concerned about the health and safety aspects for
young children playing football in amongst power cables and pylons.
Another aspect is the adjoining sewage works, which wouldn't be a very pleasing prospect for the
players and visitors.
There ARE enough football
pitches available for the club, they already use Beauchamps and the
Memorial Park. Although new recreation facilities would always be
welcome, this is certainly NOT an ideal site, and the
Wickford Youth Football Club are misguided by going for this
'bribe' to sell off their current site.
Regarding increased
traffic from 50 new homes and a sports complex, the only proposed
change is to put in a new right turn lane into the housing site from the
Southend Road going towards Southend. No other benefits are offered to
the existing Wickford residents, and so our group is opposed to it on
the grounds of yet more over-development.
Shot Farm is green belt
land, and once permission is given for a pavilion, parking, and a hard
playing surface, it is only to be expected that more green belt will be
lost.
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