What is BAG?
Billericay Action Group (BAG) is comprised of local volunteers who give their time and energy to inform and represent Billericay residents on town planning matters, primarily the Basildon Borough Local Plan.
We are non-party political: we seek collaboration with councillors and officials responsible for planning and we challenge any politician whose actions and words endanger Billericay’s Green Belt and the character of our town.
We communicate with residents through this website and on social media, predominantly Facebook where we have around 5,000 supporters. We encourage residents to submit their views on relevant Basildon Council consultations.
We liaise with similar action groups and with other local and national organisations with similar interests. We are active members of the national Community Planning Alliance.
As of 2018, BAG became a part of The Billericay District Residents' Association (BDRA) but retains a separate and dedicated Committee. BAG uses the town-wide reach of the BDRA to further communicate with the community via The Resident newsletter delivered to BDRA members. We believe, across the 2 organisations, that we have the support of nearly 50% or the towns residents.
We are non-party political: we seek collaboration with councillors and officials responsible for planning and we challenge any politician whose actions and words endanger Billericay’s Green Belt and the character of our town.
We communicate with residents through this website and on social media, predominantly Facebook where we have around 5,000 supporters. We encourage residents to submit their views on relevant Basildon Council consultations.
We liaise with similar action groups and with other local and national organisations with similar interests. We are active members of the national Community Planning Alliance.
As of 2018, BAG became a part of The Billericay District Residents' Association (BDRA) but retains a separate and dedicated Committee. BAG uses the town-wide reach of the BDRA to further communicate with the community via The Resident newsletter delivered to BDRA members. We believe, across the 2 organisations, that we have the support of nearly 50% or the towns residents.
Our Principles
As a group we will abide by the following principles:
- The group is non party, or independent, political. We challenge politicians and councillors who do not support our views and encourage those who do.
- We work for the good of all Billericay residents, including those in the South Green, Burstead and Little Burstead parishes. We also acknowledge how the Local Plan impacts Basildon borough as a whole.
- We operate in a way which truly represents the views of the residents of Billericay by consultation and consensus. Typically we will inform people via this website but our Facebook group is where we tend to have the most up to date activity.
- Our views and output are justifiably based upon factual information, where possible. We encourage anyone to inform us of any errors and we will make changes as required.
How is BAG managed
The Co-ordination Team
The team below are local volunteers who have offered to help the Billericay Action Group achieve its objectives whilst supporting residents in their responses to the councils Core Strategy:
Mike Andrews
Chairman (retired) & Founder
In the summer of 2022 Mike decided that it was time to retire as Chairman of BAG, some 8 years after setting up the group. Mike has been very much instrumental in driving our campaign activity and his involvement over those years is very much appreciated. Mike is still a Billericay resident, where he has lived for over 40 years. And we know he is keeping on eye on where the Local Plan takes us next!
Chairman (retired) & Founder
In the summer of 2022 Mike decided that it was time to retire as Chairman of BAG, some 8 years after setting up the group. Mike has been very much instrumental in driving our campaign activity and his involvement over those years is very much appreciated. Mike is still a Billericay resident, where he has lived for over 40 years. And we know he is keeping on eye on where the Local Plan takes us next!
Alasdair Daw
Chief Researcher, author, Twitter master
By day Alasdair is an IT Business Analyst by night he is BAG's top undercover researcher and author of the infamous white paper.
He likes West Ham (not his fault), running, BBC 4 documentaries and dislikes mornings.
His alter-ego is Mark Corrigan.
Chief Researcher, author, Twitter master
By day Alasdair is an IT Business Analyst by night he is BAG's top undercover researcher and author of the infamous white paper.
He likes West Ham (not his fault), running, BBC 4 documentaries and dislikes mornings.
His alter-ego is Mark Corrigan.
Andy Wilson
Secretary, researcher, webmaster & blogger
Billericay born and bred, and his father before him, so over 100 years of Billericay connection in his family. Married with 1 young adult still at home and another that has escaped. Got away with a career in IT having had no idea what to do after leaving Mayflower School. Managed to wangle early retirement. Has a diverse set of interests including theatre, football, good food and wine, bird watching, music and of course protecting the heritage of Billericay.
Secretary, researcher, webmaster & blogger
Billericay born and bred, and his father before him, so over 100 years of Billericay connection in his family. Married with 1 young adult still at home and another that has escaped. Got away with a career in IT having had no idea what to do after leaving Mayflower School. Managed to wangle early retirement. Has a diverse set of interests including theatre, football, good food and wine, bird watching, music and of course protecting the heritage of Billericay.
Sue Woodland is also a key member of the team and was instrumental is setting up and managing the Frithwood Lane Action Group (FLAG). With so much focus in the Local Plan on South West Billericay and in the vicinity of Frithwood Lane, specifically the potential loss of part of Frith Wood itself and the now infamous relief/link road which would have decimated much of the area, we felt it was important to have a sub-group of very local people dedicated to the cause.
If you are interested, we always welcome additional help. Please get in touch, via our Contact page.
