WICKFORD: Residents' fury at go-ahead for houses 'nobody' wants

THE fallout from a High Court ruling allowing a massive housing development could be dire, a senior councillor warned.

Plans to build about 200 homes on picturesque land at Barn Hall, Wickford, had been met with opposition from residents, Basildon District Council, and even the Government's own planning inspector.

But High Court judges said there were no grounds for Basildon council to lodge an appeal against Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears's decision to ignore advice and give the go-ahead for work.

Critics say the site is inappropriate and would put unbearable strain on local infrastructure.

Council leader Cllr Malcolm Buckley said: "The infrastructure is going to struggle to cope with the influx of around 250 more families. We will have to look at healthcare improvements, a new library and more jobs."

He said transport links would also be put under extreme pressure by the development, adding: "Of course I am disappointed with this result, but it is typical of the Government's centralised approach to housing issues.

"We will now study this result to see if we are able to challenge it. This decision has made the regeneration of Wickford town centre even more urgent.

"If a new housing development is to go ahead at Barn Hall, the need for new local facilities, such as a health centre, library and shops, is more important than ever."

More than 3,500 local residents had signed a petition to stop the planned construction.

The original planning application by developer Gleeson Homes was rejected by the council but that decision, although supported by the planning inspector, was overturned by the Secretary of State.

This gave the green light to the developers to start building and therefore the council appealed against the decision.

Wickford North Action Group chairman Peter Boynes, a resident for more than 23 years near the site off Station Avenue, said: "This decision is a total mockery of democracy. If you go on the Secretary of State's website, you read lots on how she wants to listen to people's views.

"But when it comes to it, she will trample all over our views. We had more than 3,500 signatures on a petition.

"The local community, local people, local council and local Member of Parliament all don't want this to go ahead."

Fellow action group member Bryan Waeland, whose £325,000 four-bedroom house overlooks the site, said: "We're bitterly disappointed but we've just got to keep an eye now.

"We're going to keep our action group members together because there is obviously going to be a more detailed planning application submitted in the future, so we just need to watch exactly what type of properties Gleeson wants to build down there.

"The Wickford regeneration programme appears to be on hold at the moment. There are five sites in the immediate vicinity. Two have been cleared and are sitting idle and the other three are going very slowly – with just one or two workmen on site.

"So we need to know what the position is with Barn Hall too."

Matt Richardson, Gleeson's strategic land manager leading the Barn Hall development, said: "We are naturally delighted with the decision of the court.

"It confirms our view that the site is a very sustainable and logical one which can deliver much needed affordable and open market housing.

"We now look forward to working with the council to bring forward a scheme on the site."