BILLERICAY ACTION GROUP
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Current Situation
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Current Situation

The Four Firsts - Looking Beyond Local Plan Adoption

2/8/2020

 
We find ourselves in uncertain times when it comes to the future of employment and housing needs, especially in our area where the norm has been a high dependence on commuting to London. We have historically been part of the London commuter belt.
 
Despite the ‘new normal’ being unclear, the Government continues to press ahead with demands for a huge scale of housing development, largely based on the assumed (and questionable) needs of the ‘old normal’.
 
The threat of excessive housing development around Billericay at the expense of our irreplaceable green spaces is vivid as it has ever been but the narrative has changed in that “build, build, build” now needs to be part of the COVID-19 economic recovery. That is somewhat understandable.
 
However, the demand for all these proposed houses does not appear to have been re-tested so the new threat is land being given up to development quickly and with little public scrutiny under this panic to build, with it potentially being moth balled by developers until, or if, suitable demand presents itself. But once it’s gone it’s gone, even if it lies idle. There is a renewed threat to the Green Belt.
 
Our core aim remains to fight excessive housing development in Billericay to the protection and retention of the Green Belt. That fight will continue at the yet to be scheduled public examination of the proposed new Basildon Local Plan.
 
However, we acknowledge that some degree of new development is inevitable and a new Local Plan will be adopted by Basildon Council at some point. We simply don’t know when or how many houses it will finally propose. We therefore need to be thinking about that future point and what we would like to see from the development that does eventually take place.
 
This is not admitting defeat but being pragmatic.
 
With this in mind, last year we published our Four First Charter setting out at a high level what we want to see from development. It’s not rocket science but some common sense around Affordability, Local Needs, Infrastructure and the Environment. It applies to one or thousands or houses.
 
We have now expanded upon the Charter in an article that you can read by clicking here - Four Firsts - Beyond Plan Adoption
 
Thank you for your continued support and interest. Please look out for more articles coming soon.

Graham Moat
4/8/2020 10:01:27

The aims of BAG I have always preached are most admiral, but as you have noted before I am more of a man who believes that actions speak far greater volumes than any amount of words will ever do. It amazes me that I meet peopel most every day who have not heard of BAG with some even being oblivious to the present content of the Local Plan and its related implications upon Billericay and the surrounding areas. Previously you may well recall that I've criticised BAG for not fulfilling the A aspect of your name. Well now if I've not left it too late I'm taking actions myself in planning to stand for Local Councillor next May against the present incumbent Councillor Richard Moore, that is if he actually plans to stand again. Judging by his and his other Tory colleagues lack of action themselves of late, ypu'd think the lot of them had already retired! That rather than just all throwing all their toys out of their collective party pram in suffering the ignominity of having every propossl slung out by 22 to 20 (or only 19 as Councillor Kevein Blake has recently resigned from Basildon Conservatives)
Although if Councillor Moore does plan to stand for re-election he doesn't yet know that I plan to well and truly userp his throne, then upset the Tory apple cart by bringing Open Democracy back to local politics in Burstead ward at the very least, possibly in other parts of Billericay too and maybe even acroos other wards in the District. And thereafter take it to the Labour/Independent consortium that now hold sway. My foremost aim will be to do my utmost to kybosh the present Local Plan, especially in regards to the type of homes that we should have built around Billericay. I acceeed that we must have some, but they need to be of a mixture that lets our community thrive rather than solely those homes that are merely aimed at drawing the select out of inner and outer Londion. It is my absolute view that this struggle ain't over until the Fat Labour Leader of the Council sings. PS: If you publish this comment then I'll go bare my bum on the New Town Hall steps!


Comments are closed.

    Aims of BAG

    To protect the green belt around Billericay from excessive loss through development.

    To prevent the character of our historic town from forever being destroyed.​

    MailBAG 29

    mailbag_29_march_2020_final.pdf
    File Size: 416 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File


    Latest on the Local Plan

    • What Is A Local Plan?
    • The Story So Far
    • ​Current Situation
    • ​Save Frith Wood & the South West
    • ​Housing Affordability
    • ​Commuting & Infrastructure
    • Local Roads & the Relief Road
    • ​The BAG point of view
    • ​Regulation 19 consultation
    • Local Plan Structure
    • CIL
    • How Residents Can Help

    The Four Firsts Charter

    the_four_firsts_charter.pdf
    File Size: 424 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File


    Click HERE to go to Basildon Council's Emerging  Local Plan web pages.
All information on this site should be accurate. If you believe something to be incorrect
​email us via the Contact page and we will endeavour to correct it as quickly as possible.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Copyright 2018
Billericay Action Group