Wickford North Green Action Group (WNGAG) think local democracy is important and that the views of local people matter.

WNGAG object to Gleeson Homes Ltd and Gladedale Group Ltd attempting to build on these open fields - contrary to Basildon Council’s plans for the overall development of Wickford, as detailed in its 1998 Local Plan and now being taken forward under its Local Development Framework (LDF). Gleesons and Gladedale show a total disregard for the democratic wishes of the local community and its elected representatives.

The two particular fields at Barn Hall, which are the subject of this outline planning application and appeal, are currently classified as Special Reserve under the 1998 Local Plan, the lifespan of which was extended by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in 2007. Basildon Council has repeatedly stated that its policy is to return them to Green Belt and the Secretary of State considered that this should be reviewed as part of the LDF process.

In any event, even as Special Reserve, Barn Hall should only be available to be built on after all other land zoned for development within Basildon District has been exhausted. As of now, it has not been exhausted. The adjacent fields at Barn Hall, which are also owned by Gleesons and Gladedale and which they have stated publicly it is their intention to go on to develop if this initial application succeeds at appeal, are within the boundaries of Chelmsford Borough Council. They are now within the Green Belt (ie. they are not Special Reserve). Basildon and Chelmsford Councils stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in their desire to protect this countryside and oppose plans to build on it - as do the MPs for the two constituencies, John Baron and Mark Francois.

Both Basildon and Chelmsford Councils are able to meet their housing needs, including targets set by central government, without granting this application. Both Councils are following central government policies to preserve Green Belt, use ‘brownfield’ sites, and intensify urban areas. Only after those avenues have been exhausted would there be any need to consider allowing building elsewhere. So, following public consultations, many thousands of new homes have already been built or are planned at the Wick, Shotgate, within Wickford town centre under the Masterplan, in Basildon town centre, at Pitsea, by ‘infilling’ within Billericay, at Runwell Hospital and north of Chelmsford.

WNGAG considers it important to emphasise the strength of feeling in the local community against developing Barn Hall. As an initial indicator, when it first became apparent in November and December 2006 that Gleesons and Gladedale were drawing up their plans, we canvassed residents - collecting statements of protest and organising a petition. We collected 679 statements of protest and a total of 1,297 signatures against their proposals and presented these to Basildon Council on 10 January 2007. That night over 300 residents attended a Community Forum on the issue and another 200 plus attended a second Community Forum on 13 August 2007. Then 328 householders sent formal letters and e-mails to Basildon Council specifically in response to the developers’ Outline Planning Application Ref. 07/00801/OUT. On 12 February 2008, over 200 residents attended the Planning Hearing, which was held in public by Basildon Council at Bromfords School, and joyously greeted the Council’s rejection of that application.

Finally, a total of 3,521 people signed WNGAG’s second petition which, together with our MP, John Baron, we presented on 23 June 2008 to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, before she made her decision to ignore the Planning Inspector’s recommendation after the June 2008 public inquiry and allow building to start at Barn Hall. WNGAG had previously written to Hazel Blears, urging her to respect these views of the local community, help its councils to preserve the rapidly diminishing green areas of natural beauty, and ensure that developments are only allowed when they contribute to a sustainable future for all of Wickford and to Basildon Council’s plans for the whole district. She ignored us and, unlike the Planning Inspector, she never visited Wickford and, even worse, refused to meet both WNGAG and John Baron MP to discuss her decision.

Now that Basildon Council have appealed Hazel Blears’ decision to the High Court, WNGAG are looking to the High Court to show a greater respect for local democracy.