Park Lodge Shops and Community Hall, Nevendon Rd

The Wickford Action Group, Nevendon Road shop Owners and users of Park Lodge Hall are fighting Basildon Council proposals to re-develop the area of the Shops, Meeting Hall and associated car Parking.
The leases on the Shops are gradually being allowed to expire by Basildon Council, longest lease is 2011. 

The Council agreed to the principle of redeveloping the land at a ‘behind closed doors’ session of a cabinet meeting on 17th July (very democratic!), for regeneration, more houses and flats. The alternative option to continue to maintain the existing properties was rejected. All of the Conservative councillors voted for it, and only Liberal Democrat Ben Williams voted against.

According to the Echo, the council has already agreed to sell the Park Lodge site to a developer.

We understand that the Shops will be re-provided with flats above nearer Nevendon Road, the meeting Hall will be demolished and the whole area behind the shops will be developed as either houses or flats.
The Council will give no guarantees that the present Shop owners will get their shops back on the same terms as now, there is likely to be less parking than now for the shoppers.
The area will have no local shops for an estimated period of 18 months to 2 years and no guarantee of the type of shop at the end. There are three OAP schemes within a short distance, and these shops are popular and well used 
This will lead to extra vehicle journeys on already busy roads. Before more housing is built the infrastructure needs to be improved, i.e. better buses, running longer into the evening, the duelling of the A132 between Wickford and the A127. 
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The Wickford Action Group say leave the Shops and Meeting Hall alone, no more houses / flats are wanted in this area.

If you agree, please sign the petition in the newsagent's shop in Nevendon Road, which will be handed to your councillors to show strength of local opinion. The shops this can be found in are:

• Chinese (Double Diamond House), 

• Hairdressers (Tanz N Hair), 

• Newsagents (Between the above two), 

• Fish and Chip Shop

Or add a comment to our website.

See also the Echo 4 August