Leave Wickford alone. Traffic won’t be able to cope, too many people as it is. Plenty of brown sites to build on, not valuable green belt sites. (Mr SW, Wickford)

We came to Wickford purely because it was semi-rural. Large developments will turn it into an over-populated built-up area. It will not be rural any more; the development is contrary to Green Belt policy. It will destroy the countryside and is harmful to the environment. Large housing developments have to provide a percentage of affordable housing/housing association/social housing, call it what you wish, it does however bring social problems. Wickford already hosts the largest traveller site. (HM)

Don’t let Gleesons and Gladedale make a profit at our expense with a massive development of 2000 houses. Let our children have a peaceful in which to relax, stroll, walk the dog, and grow up safely. STOP THE URBAN SPRAWL. (Mrs NO, Runwell)

This beautiful area can never be replaced once it is gone. (Mrs SJ, Wickford)

No thank-you. We moved here over 30 years ago for a quieter way of life from London. Wickford already has many new housing developments currently being built on more suitable sites. It would cost the government millions to make this a feasible proposal or would the developers pick up the tab and build a new senior school and new roads from their profits? I fear not. My daughter lives in Runwell and she called the police early one morning. They did not respond because they were over-stretched. (Mr JM, Downham)

We moved to Downham for a rural lifestyle and we regularly use the area to walk our dogs. It is a beautiful piece of countryside, abundant in wildlife. The roads are busy enough and our infrastructure is insufficient. Is the government prepared to build more schools, doctors’ surgeries and so forth…..it would cost millions. Save our Green Belt! (Mrs JM, Downham)

No thank-you. When we moved here 6 years ago, we could not get registered with our local doctor’s surgery in Swan Lane, let alone find an NHS dentist. The trains into London are horrendous. I regularly stand on the 6.00am train into London. Our senior schools are full. This whole idea is totally implausible. (Mr RT, Wickford)

Please do not build on this beautiful green belt. There are so few spaces for our children to run and enjoy. Wickford cannot cope with more houses and hence more people. Our infrastructure is already heavily burdened (doctors, schools etc). Trains into London are chronically over-crowded, even at 6.00am. The roads are incredibly busy, especially during rush hours. This is purely about profit for developers and does not consider the welfare and happiness of hundreds of people already living in Wickford. (Mrs CT, Wickford)

I think it’s disgusting how Basildon Council think they have the right to turn our natural grassland in Wickford into a housing estate. Greenbelt land should NOT be touched, they can’t just change the rules to suit themselves. I’m a wildlife photographer and regularly go over there for a walk. I’ve seen all sorts of rare birds, kestrels, short-eared owls, woodpeckers. (Mr ME, Wickford)

There are enough houses in Wickford. I have lived here for just over 8 years now and the town has expanded at least 50%. We have major traffic problems, over-filled doctors’ surgeries and other public services are suffering. Schools are becoming overcrowded and Basildon Council are also proposing to have a few more gypsy sites due to government pressure. (Mr BS, Wickford)

Doctors, roads, schools etc cannot sustain any more development in Wickford. (SD)

Save this green land from development, keep for present and future generations to enjoy. Please do not take the easy option of building on green land and instead take the hard decision and take time to find an alternative build on brown field sites. Children and future generations will be thankful in years to come…..it just takes a little time, consideration and hard work to do the ‘right thing’. Wildlife and the natural environment should be protected and respected. (Mr CH, Corringham)

As a direct descendant of a former landowner, circa 1900 (Frank C. Duce), I have only just found out we owned this land and am quite appalled that more of the land is to be built on. I am investigating previous boundaries etc as I think that what is now Alderney Gardens estate would also have been Barn Hall farm land. Typical, just as I find out about my family’s history, some bugger’s planning to bury it! Thanks Mr Government Man! (Mr GW, Southend)

I spent 30 years of my life living on the Barn Hall estate in Swallow Road. My brothers and I spent many summer days playing in the fields and around the different ponds in the area, including the old moat house. Most of the kids who attended Barn Hall school did and it would be a great shame to build houses on this land. (Miss HF, Milton Keynes)

We are losing Green Belt rapidly. Locally amenities (doctors, hospitals, dentists, schools etc) cannot cope now with the developments being built. We cannot have any more. There will be more road traffic chaos in the congested town, on the Runwell Road, and on the new A130. (Mr DP, Wickford)

We moved here because we like the open green space. There are already a large number of dwellings built or being built, so the open green space is important for them too. We moved away from crowded roads and a busy environment to the peace and quiet of Wickford. There are already too many new residents trying to use our cramped facilities - no more, please - let us keep our open spaces and fresh air. (Mrs RP, Wickford)

I object very strongly to the new proposals for Gleesons to build houses at Barn Hall. We already have too many new builds in Wickford and the strain of this extra housing has had a detrimental effect on every service in the area. Wickford has already doubled in size in 10 years. (Miss RK, Wickford)

This building must not happen. It will further ruin an over-populated Wickford. (Mr PC, Runwell)

The 10,500 houses already have a home, say the council, so why do these developers push to destroy Barn Hall? The answer is they make a profit. What do they care? Save Barn Hall. (Mr IB)

I do not think the infrastructure, ie. roads, schools, doctors, dentists, water, sewage can take any more large-scale building in Wickford. (Mr LE, Wickford)

Just money making schemes for the developers. They should concentrate on brownfield sites for regeneration. Leave the original green space there. When it’s gone, you can’t get it back. (Mr JS, Wickford)

Wickford is already over-developed with insufficient infrastructure. Sewage treatment can’t cope at present and traffic is almost at gridlock at peak times. Any further housing will create serious hardship. (Mr RD, Wickford)

I strongly oppose the development of this land as in recent years Wickford has seen its fair share of new developments. In the light of the recent floods in the UK, I would have thought that concreting over yet more ’green’ land was the last thing that should be considered and that any new developments should be built on ’brown’ land. If this development goes ahead with complete disregard for the opinions of local residents, then it will be on Basildon Council’s head if there is future flooding. (Miss SR, Wickford)

Enough is enough. Wickford’s infrastructure cannot cope with yet more homes and the inevitable cars. We are destroying this wonderful market town. Let’s put a stop to it now! (Anon, Wickford)

Absolutely no way should this be allowed to go ahead. Too many new housing developments are going up…..and do these developers live here? (Anon, Wickford)

Apart from the obvious green issues, infrastructure (or lack of) is a major reason for abandoning this scheme. (Mr PD, Wickford)

Destruction of this natural environment and the traffic chaos that this development will bring to Wickford is outrageous. This is a greenfield site and, therefore, its development is not in line with the policy announced by Gordon Brown that new homes planned should be on brownfield sites. (Mr RL, Wickford)

The development is contrary to Green Belt policy. It will destroy the countryside and is harmful to the environment. It is also contrary to the planned/zoned development for Wickford and disregards the views of the local community. (Miss JP, Wickford)

The potential to cause a flood area at the lower end of Station Avenue. Also the infrastructure in the area would not be able to cope with the extra traffic. The train service from Wickford to London is already stretched and, with the new housing being built on the Runwell Hospital grounds, this area will become gridlocked. (Mr AF, Wickford)

Where is the infrastructure for this and other proposed developments in Wickford? Trains to London are crowded now. Roads in and out of Wickford are crowded now, to say nothing of schools, doctors’ lists etc. (Mr GB, Wickford)

Wickford does not have the capacity to increase its population any further. There are no facilities for schools, doctors, roads, sewage, and the main line station will not be able to cope at peak periods. Wickford will be hard pushed to cope with all the already planned developments without any further housing plans. (Mrs KB, Wickford)

I am strongly opposed to this development. (Mr MB, Wickford)

More building on Green Belt land, turning our roads into main roads, taking away kids’ recreational areas, gridlocked traffic at the station and through the town centre - all this so someone can make money from building houses and doesn’t even live in the area. (Mr DH, Wickford)

I strongly oppose building on the beautiful site. Wickford is too over-built already. We must have the space for countryside, enabling us to unwind in this busy, fast world - not to mention the affect of consumption of resources, ie. Schools, water supply. What about work? There are few jobs available in Wickford, meaning more commuters at rush hour. (Miss SJ, Wickford)

No, please! (Mr AJ, Wickford)

This property belonged to my great-grandparents. It would be a shame to see it developed in this beautiful environment and, for myself, a piece of my heritage destroyed. (Ms CM, Melbourne, Australia)

The plans to develop this site are unwelcome to the neighbouring residents. It would destroy the countryside, over-developing the area of land and lead to road safety issues. It is unwanted. (Anon)

Keep up the good work. (Mr SH, Noak Bridge)

I strongly object to this proposal. Wickford High Street and around the station gets gridlocked as soon as it rains, let alone when there are thousands more houses and people to congest the town even more. The secondary schools are full to the brim. Are they going to build another secondary school along with the new houses? Probably not. This proposal should be rejected. (Mr DR, Runwell)

This is a beautiful, undeveloped green belt area, enjoyed by many generations in the past and should be kept unspoilt for those in the future. There are designated areas locally that have been agreed for the amount of development that Government are demanding without the use of this area. (Mrs DB, Wickford)

Barn Hall has to stay a green area for its own sake, for the enjoyment of the actual Wickford residents, and the future generation. Once we start to build in a little area, the whole gets built on and the green countryside and all that it contains are lost for ever. There are other areas in Wickford that can offer the land needed to build new houses. If we let Barn Hall become another housing estate, we will regret for ever. Save Barn Hall. (Mrs FZ, Wickford)

Find somewhere else to build the homes - perhaps where the illegal travellers live. (Mr LP & Mrs EF)

Leave nature be. (AM)

Basildon Council assure us that they can meet their housing targets without this area of fields, hedges and trees being built upon. The site must be returned to Green Belt as intended by the Council in the aborted Draft Replacement Local Plan. They mustn't give in to greedy developers nor must the Planning Inspectorate if it goes to appeal. Respect must be given to the wishes of the local community if this is a true democracy. (Mrs JB, Wickford)

I went to school in Wickford between 1967 and 1973 and can't recognise the town now because of the amount of new buildings. It's no good talking about climate change and then taking away the few green places we have left. Leave Wickford alone. (DS)

There are still enough brown sites in the south-east without developing green land for housing. (Mr EW, Bulphan)

I feel it is disgusting that the corporations should be allowed to even consider building MORE houses in Wickford. Over-developed already, this town will suffer from even more traffic (already gridlocked) and the environment will suffer too. The idea of GREEN BELT was to maintain areas of green land to ensure breathable air and places to go for local residents and visitors alike. Why, why, why can they then build on said land? KEEP GREEN BELT GREEN! (Mr RC)

Love walking on the wild side, land at Barn Hall, gives all Wickfordians and beyond that joy. Green Belt is the Health of the Nation. (JW, ex-Wickford)

They are over-developing Wickford. Please keep it green. 200 new flats and dwellings in Wickford town centre. 630 new dwellings at Runwell. Too much. (IF, Wickford)

Nice scenery and nature are hard to come by in these parts. Build it somewhere where the landscape does need transforming, not where it doesn't. (Mr BW, Amsterdam)

I travel to Liverpool Street daily on the 0635. The train and platform are very crowded. New properties can only add to the overcrowding on these trains. Also a big concern is the doctors, parking, schools etc. Good luck to you all in stopping this ridiculous proposal. (Miss DB)

We need our green spaces. Do I really have to get in a car to take my children to an area where they can play/run/exercise? (Mr JC, Wickford)

Is there really no other land within the UK that these developers can build upon? One can appreciate the growing need for housing. However, sites which have already been over-developed appear to have been chosen for further development. (Mrs AC, Shotgate)

I live in one of the oldest properties of the Barn Hall estate. This development will destroy our countryside and wildlife for ever. The over-development of Wickford has to stop NOW. (Mrs HR, Wickford)

There is too much of Wickford being developed. We are only a small town. Our roads cannot take all the extra traffic. Our schools and doctors cannot accommodate all the extra residents. (Mrs JK, Wickford)

Wickford is getting so developed without the infrastructure being put in place at the same time as the building progresses. We are doing our bit in future planning. Please leave us what countryside we still have. (Mrs MB, Wickford)

Too much housing already exists in Wickford. This land is for the benefit of EXISTING residents and local wildlife. (Mr SS, Wickford)

Environmental damage, congestion of the High Street, need improved amenities before new homes. (Mr RM, Wickford)

Why spoil natural countryside and create overcrowding and transport chaos in Wickford when there are so many other areas in southern England that would relish the thought of new development? Why do developers want to spoil the natural habitat we have in Wickford for wildlife? It's all about money. It's time that we made a stand! (Mrs MW, Wickford)

Our sons are disabled. One has CP and learning difficulties. The other is deaf. Development of this area would be devastating for us as an increase in traffic means increasing the risk of our younger son not hearing oncoming cars. At the moment our road is very quiet with hardly any traffic. Our other son becomes very anxious when he hears loud noises such as car traffic and industrial machinery. If building works commenced, we would have to consider moving - something we neither want nor can afford. (Miss MA, Wickford)

My grandsons live in Lindon Road. Both are disabled and this development would cause a major disruption in their already difficult lives. (Mr & Mrs MJ, Bradford)

I am a pensioner and getting doctors/hospital appointments is bad enough without increasing the overstretched NHS to breaking point. (Mr WH, Wickford)

My nephews live in Lindon Road. They are both disabled. A development of this size would make it near impossible to remain living in the area safely. (The P family, Rayleigh & Wickford)

It is a disgrace that green belt land can be taken really because of an administration fault. This should be addressed by the government for what it is - a mistake. Hope this petition wins a result. (Miss LB, Wickford)

Please do not build on this land. Green land and spaces are our future. (Miss KD, Wickford)

I have lived in Barn Hall for over 20 years and the threat of development has been discussed for all those years. Because it was Green Belt, I have never felt too concerned before. But how and when did it change to Brown Belt? (Mrs JJ, Wickford)

Without the infrastructure any further development in Wickford/Runwell hospital will bring this area to a grinding halt. We all have to sit in the traffic morning and evening to access Wickford. If this development was planned legitimately, why was it not included in the Wickford Plan? (Mr MB, Wickford)

I am against any further over-development of Wickford. We already suffer traffic congestion, over-population and lack of infrastructure. Schools cannot cope with the growing numbers of children, public services are creaking at the seams, and being stuck in traffic has become a way of life. Enough already - this town reached capacity several years ago! (Mr KC, Wickford)

We would not want to see any more houses being built in such a beautiful area. Let's keep the natural beauty and wildlife for years to come. Future generations will appreciate the space and freedom. (Mrs JM, Wickford)

This development must not happen. (Mr BS)

Wickford should stay a nice family town where kids can climb trees and play football in the parks; not a concrete jungle where kids are more at risk of getting killed in over congested roads. (Mr AG)

Leave the Green Belt alone. (Mr RH)

Wickford schools cannot cope with the number of children in the area with many having to take buses as far as Basildon already. The doctors' surgeries cannot cope - with appointments not available for 7 days or more. The roads cannot always cope with the traffic. Bright idea - bring in more residents - I wonder whose idea that was - obviously someone who doesn't know Wickford! (Mrs TL)

I agree with this petition. Wickford is having too many houses built and no roads and infrastructure to go with it. We must stop all this development. (Mr GB, Wickford)

There are more than enough brownfield eyesores that should be developed before we build on green. (Miss JB)

It is unacceptable to continue to develop greenfield sites when there are plenty of brownfield sites to be redeveloped first. Save our countryside! (Mrs VR)

To develop this green belt land would be a disaster for the surrounding infrastructure, which is already struggling to cope with overcrowded roads, inadequate sewage capacity, and insufficient doctors and dentists surgeries. This first phase of 250 dwellings would be 'the straw that breaks the camel's back' and should be resisted at all cost. The building company should not be allowed to speculate and profit to the detriment of Wickford residents. (Mr MT, Wickford)

We strongly object to the construction of new settlements because of the strained resources, the immense overload of commuting traffic, and we feel the quality of life will deteriorate (Mr AL, Wickford)

Wickford already struggles with traffic congestion and shortage of essential services, such as doctors, dentists etc. Coupled with the fact that our schools have no more space and classrooms are already too large, putting more people in this area would be madness - and that's not even starting on the environmental issues. (Mr JS, Wickford)

If the development goes ahead, it will not only destroy a lovely piece of countryside but will also cause traffic chaos in Station Avenue. (Mr MW, Wickford)

I urge everyone who doesn't want developers to 'concrete over' the lovely countryside, which fortunately still remains in Essex, to sign this petition. Basildon Council is already meeting the demanding targets set by central government for new houses by allowing building on brownfield sites. Resist this attempt by greedy developers to make an easy profit at the expense of the environment and thereby adding to Wickford's infrastructure problems. (Mr PB, Wickford)

Wickford can't cope with any more building. (Mr AM)

This green belt land should remain as such. The plan to build such a large number of properties would destroy the natural landscape and create traffic and environmental problems........and seriously deplete the resources of the local Hanningfield reservoir. This development of green belt land must NOT be allowed to take place. (Mr CC, Wickford)

I believe, if this development goes ahead, the whole of Wickford will suffer. The balance of the local environment will be lost. There is no need for this to go ahead. It is just greed of the few at the cost of the many who live here and care about the wildlife and local facilities of the green fields. If I wanted to live in a concrete jungle, I would live in London, but I commute on already full, unclean and late trains because I come home to a beautiful countryside. (Miss DP, Wickford)

This proposed development is unwanted by the residents of the area, will destroy the habitats of a considerable amount of wildlife, will put unsustainable additional strain on local resources, and is totally unnecessary under the development demands of HMG ODPM. It must not be allowed to go ahead. (Mr JC, Wickford)

I have visited Wickford on several occasions and enjoyed short walks in this very area. It will be a great shame for such an area of natural beauty to be developed. (Mr RC, Huningue, France)

I am 29 and have lived in Wickford all my life. I am disgusted that our Essex lung is under threat. Our local council/our government have let us down already with green belt land being built on illegally by the gypsies, and now they are going to allow what little we have left for developers - it's crazy. It scares me what is happening to our environment and I hope someone listens to our voices before it's all concrete and too late. (Miss CS, Wickford)

I think there is far too much building going on in Wickford and it does not need any more stress on our fire, police, services etc. (Mrs AR, Wickford)

How can this development support all this housing with absolutely no mention of new roads, schools etc. It seems only if it makes money is it viable. Roads, schools, sewerage etc all cost money, so these subjects are pushed to one side. All we have in Wickford is an outdated swimming pool, miniscule library, and roads that cannot support the traffic now - let alone when there is a new village on Runwell Hospital and all the new housing from the Wickford Masterplan. SAVE OUR GREEN SPACES, PLEASE. (Mrs PS, Wickford)

This area should not be developed because it is very rich in wildlife and it affords many walks for the general public to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding countryside and to get regular exercise and relaxation from the pressures of modern living. There is already enough development in the area and this open space should be kept for future generations to enable them to enjoy the countryside. (Mrs EW, Runwell)

The infrastructure in the town will collapse. We have seen large developments......with little investment in the services or transport systems. The Runwell development will bring additional pressure on the two local secondary schools and roads such as Nevendon Road and Runwell Road. Any further development as at Barn Hall will create gridlock. (Mr AW, Wickford)

There is already enough development and proposed development in Wickford. Leave us some green space to enjoy. (Mrs MH, Wickford)

We moved into the area six months ago to get rid of the fumes of London. The thing which sold the house to us was the Barn Hall land as we live only a few steps from it and we have two boys. Our boys had no green space to play when we lived in London and my eldest boy, who suffered with asthma due to the fumes of the city, has been fine since we lived here. We would be shattered if this land was to be built on as my children have had so much more freedom in the last six months than ever before. (Mrs MS, Wickford)

We cannot get out or into Wickford during rush hours.......I work on the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate and can get there in 10-15 minutes. On two occasions recently....it has taken me one and three quarter hours to do the same journey!.....Our doctors, dentists and roads are fit to burst. How can we possibly sustain further housing resulting in more cars, children etc and sustain a workable environment? We will be gridlocked. (Mrs LD, Wickford)

How on earth are the existing roads going to cope with all this extra traffic? The new by-pass road by Rettendon Turnpike has done nothing to alleviate the traffic through Wickford and these new homes will generate 1,500 extra vehicles or more. Wickford could become gridlocked during the rush hours! (Mrs LL, Wickford)

Wickford has always been an area to relax from the stress of modern day life. It has been a gateway to the countryside, to discover our past and how the farming area has grown. We do not have much wildlife in this area to leave for the future generations, so let's try to preserve this small area for them. (Mr&Mrs BR, Wickford)

The wildlife/hedgerows etc would be a big loss to the community. Wickford has already reached saturation point.....and, if this development was to be passed, it would create immense pressure on the already over-populated area. (Mr CY, Wickford)

Loss of countryside would be a total unnecessary loss and Wickford will not cope with the strain of large-scale developments. (Ms MN, Wickford)

This area is the only place left in Wickford of outstanding natural beauty and it needs to be saved. As a nature loving child of Runwell, every year I study the wildlife of the fields of Barn Hall. I find many wild animals like frogs, toads, grass snakes, adders, lizards, kestrels, badgers, foxes, squirrels, ducks, great crested newts and many other newts.....I have many dens and a tree-house over there. There are a lot of dog walkers who use the local fields. The wildlife is outstanding all year round with the wild plants, animals, birds and insects. This land needs to be kept and made green belt again. (Master SH, Wickford)

We must stop this foot in door development. (Mr DS)

Save our town. (Mrs LS)

Barn Hall is a park where children regularly play football. People walk their dogs. There is also a small playground with swings for younger children. If they build houses on it, what happens to the children? Once again they will have nowhere to go and this is where trouble starts. The roads cannot take extra traffic.........Some are already in a terrible state, eg. Guernsey Gardens, without extra traffic which will be caused by extra houses. (Mrs SV, Wickford)

I have been constantly commenting on the lack of infrastructure in Wickford. Although we have two new schools on the Wick, they are full after further extensions. Secondary pupils are now being offered Basildon schools as ours are full. The GPs have closed books, the traffic is gridlocked morning and evening, there is not enough parking, too many take-aways, and not enough general shops. (Mrs IP, Shotgate)

Saw the campaign in the local paper and had to sign this petition! Let's please protect all green areas around the town, stop the over-development of Wickford, and prevent the area becoming another Basildon sprawling for miles. (Mr CH-R, Wickford)

There are not enough open spaces in or near Wickford. WE NEED TO BREATHE AND WALK. (Mrs LH, Wickford)

Don't build here. There are other plans for Wickford and we desperately need to keep some wild countryside for the good of everyone. (Mrs LR-H, Wickford)

Hands off that green space, please. (Miss TD)

Infrastructure in this area cannot accommodate this amount of housing, especially the roads, Runwell Road - Nevendon Road out of Wickford are already congested. A127, A13, M25 are already very busy commuter roads that cannot carry much more traffic......The south east is already overcrowded. Try building up north. They have much more space. (Mr TL, Wickford)

Concerns are loss of open space amenities, inadequate local services, eg. medical, schools, inadequate infrastructure, vast area now served by overhead electricity cables, reservoir capacity for water, disposal of sewage, and the major affect of increased run-off leading to local flooding. 1,000s of extra car movements per day cannot be absorbed by the present roads - A132 being already inadequate and minor roads will be unable to sustain the extra traffic. (Mrs MC, Wickford)

We would like to inform you that......great crested newts.......are present in our garden pond and could only have come from this site. (Mr&Mrs KW, Wickford)

Stop concreting Britain. (Mrs LA)

This development is not about the needs of Wickford. It is pure financial greed by the developer. (Mr RW, Wickford)

The fields .....aid in combating the increasing likelihood of flooding. If concreted over, where does the water go? Who will provide the resources for more services needed for an increased population? The roads are busy enough already! (GV, Wickford)

There is little enough green. We need this area. (Mrs JA)

During the proposed development of Dry Street, it was obvious that public opinion in the form of petitions could alter the outcome........We all have a duty to voice our opinions over this kind of development, or we run a considerable risk of a runaway expansion of housing. Future generations will, I suspect, look back on current policies with dismay. (Mr PGL, Basildon)

How anyone could even think of putting a generic housing estate on such a site as this is completely beyond me. It makes me angry to think that, of all the places we have available to build on, someone thinks "oh, yes, let's put it here where we can destroy wildlife and the countryside." Idiots! (Miss CS)

We visit this area on a regular basis and are very disappointed to hear of these massive development plans on a lovely recreational area regularly used by ourselves and many others. (Mrs BC)

Good luck with this. I hope they do not get away with any development on this site. (Mr TF, Wickford)

Green Belt should not be developed. 'Recycling' brownbelt is a much more agreeable prospect and negates most of the potential constraints (infrastructure etc). (Mr PW)

Keep Wickford green! (Mr MS, Wickford)

STOP THE BUILDING NOW. KEEP THE GREENERY! (Miss CH, South Woodham Ferrers)

The A132 will become gridlocked as more and more houses are built within the bounds of Wickford. Basildon Council must reject any planning applications submitted for the Barn Hall site and place a limit on approving further residential development in Wickford. (Mr BS, Wickford)

Do the right thing and stop this development at once - another beautiful piece of nature to be destroyed for the sake of greedy developers with no foresight or interest into what they are doing. THIS IS GREEN BELT LAND. CLEAR OFF! (Master MW)

Apart from the building of houses taking away what little green space we have left, my main concern is the traffic flow.....Essex County Council's Local Transport Plan 2006-2011....states that the A132....will have a dramatic increase in congestion by year 2011 (it is bad enough already) and it has been identified as having one of the highest accident rates....of all A & B roads in Essex.....things can only get worse. (KR, Wickford)

I have experienced severe delays getting to work over recent months due to the congestion on Nevendon Road out of Wickford aiming to get to the A127. Traffic backs up near enough to the Somerfield roundabout on some days! My 15-minute journey to work now sometimes takes me 45 minutes.......At a meeting I attended 4 years ago about concern over lack of secondary schools, we were told by a councillor that a contingency plan was to let the overspill of children of my daughter's age (now 9) filter back into the failing Basildon schools. Surely, if it is known that there will not be enough places for children currently at over-populated primary schools when they reach secondary school age, why are we intending to bring new families into the area? The congestion out of Swan Lane along into the High Street and on the road to South Woodham Ferrers is bad enough now (rush hour) - that is, before the Runwell housing development is complete. To contemplate building more houses is just ludicrous! I grew up in Billericay when there used to be a divide between Billericay and Basildon with lots of fields at the bottom of Noak Hill. This has rapidly disappeared with new housing estates. As a family now, we often bike/walk up Carlton Road and enjoy the views over Downham etc. Let's keep some green land for our children to grow up with and enjoy the little bit of countryside we have left. (EL, Wickford)

The development....is a private firm wanting to make a profit and extra housing is a by-product....When it rains...it floods the corner of the development field....it is waterlogged for most of the year....The developers will probably suggest drainage and soak-aways. Always remember that water will find its own level and ways. There are two cottages in Chelmsford that became flood victims due to a new estate on an adjacent hill. Sewage - there is a pumping station adjacent to Jubilee Drive. A couple of years ago in stormy weather it became overloaded and broke down, sewage flooded onto our front garden and driveway (the lowest point of the system). Two attending engineers on two different occasions informed me that the pumps were antique and needed urgently replacing. In fact, I was informed only one pump was working as they had used parts from the other. I do not believe Anglian Water has ever replaced them, but they are regularly attended to by engineers and tankers have on a couple of occasions drawn off sewage. Electricity - it is known from a DTI report that the power supply in this whole area is under strain as the original infrastructure was never meant to carry urban/suburban development......GPs have closed books; schools are over-subscribed....And how is all this expansion going to affect the local hospitals etc? Roads - with the station at the end of the road, there are peak times when the traffic comes to a grinding halt at the end of Station Avenue. The flow of traffic at peak times into and from Basildon and the A127 is a slow crawl. How many more vehicles are you going to load onto this creaking system?.......How much more expansion can this area without the quality of our lives becoming detrimentally affected? (Mr & Mrs FH, Wickford)

To many there is a gradual general perception developing within Wickford that it is slowly turning into a "concrete jungle" lorded over by property developers with £ signs in their eyes amid an ever increasing amount of housing estates lacking in soul, direction, amenities and ROADS! There also arise concerns about WATER supply and the issue about what future financing might be needed as regards proper policing. (Mr DC, Wickford)

My view is that the building plans already in place will provide enough new housing in the area. I am strongly opposed to Wickford losing more of its open countryside and believe this land should be put back into the Green Belt category. This government seems determined to build over every inch of green we can see. A look in the estate agents in Wickford shows there is plenty of property for sale for people who wish to move to the area. The company that have built this land did so for one reason only - to make more money. (LB, Wickford)

I wish you every success in your actions to try to save something of Wickford from continual development and keep a piece of Green Belt in our district. Wickford has greatly changed during the 20 years I have lived here and the High Street has been in need of revamping for many years now, so I welcome the plans to enhance the High Street. However, with so much new housing already in the pipeline (before the Barn Hall plans), I cannot understand how our struggling roads and local facilities (dental and doctors' surgeries) will cope. The by-pass road through Rettendon Turnpike seems to be a failure; it is never busy and heavy traffic still uses Wickford as a route to A127/A12 and beyond. (LL, Wickford)