WHO’S PLAN IS IT? WHO DO WE BLAME?

28/10/2021

Over the 5 years from 2014 to 2019 during which the emerging Local Plan was created, approved and submitted to the Planning Inspector, the Conservatives held power on Basildon Council the majority of the time, with one year under a Labour led coalition.

The Conservatives were there at the start and the end, but still contest that is largely a Labour plan and that it would have been even worse if Labour had held power for longer.

But are they right? Who really came up with this bad Local Plan and who has inflicted the most pain on Billericay through excessive housing and Green Belt loss?

BAG has diligently followed the evolution of the Local Plan. We have read reams of documents and attended dozens of Council meetings. We have a good record of what happened and when. Who said what. Who voted for and against. Much of this is actually in the public domain through the published minutes of meetings, and the evidence base that supports the Local Plan. There is nowhere to hide from the facts!

In a new article we lay out those facts allowing you to decide who’s Local Plan this really is, who’s to blame and who’s in a position to do something better as it’s not too late to make amends.

Please take a look through this link....
Who's Plan Is It?

John M

28/10/2021 11:19:30

I would like to think that this excellent summary of events would have some of our so called political representatives squirming in their seats, if it wasn’t for the apparent contempt that they hold for the very real concerns of their constituents.

In my opinion, the apparent fact that the council is having their case presented to the enquiry by a barrister indicates their lack of confidence in the plans ability to stand on its own merits and that they intend to mitigate the bad points, instead of positively addressing any problems.

I can only assume that if this poorly considered plan goes ahead, in its current form, the instigators, of the resultant mess, will be passing the responsibility around like a hot potato, or spouting inane apologies, on behalf of a scapegoat, to rectify the problems at the council tax payers expense.

I looked up the meaning of democracy, which in short means “Rule of the people”. Don’t see much democracy going on here. Strange people don’t seem to feel that it’s worth voting anymore.

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Aims of BAG

To protect the Green Belt around Billericay and elsewhere in Basildon Borough from loss through excessive and unjustified development.

To prevent the character of our historic towns from being changed forever.

To ensure that any development that does take place is sustainable, with adequate infrastructure and prioritises local needs.

We support the need for a new Basildon Local Plan and the need for more housing. But it must be of the right number, the right type and in the right places to best help local people obtain a home of their own.

Join our Facebook Group

Our most up to date activity can be found on our closed Facebook Group - Save Billericay From Housing Developments. Ask to join here;
www.facebook.com/groups/BillericayActionGroup/

Information on the Local Plan

The latest summary position on the long history of the Basildon Local Plan can be found here;
Current Situation

Historical items from the withdrawn Local Plan can be found here;
2014 to 2034 Withdrawn Plan Archive

The Four Firsts Charter

This will be updated for the 2023 to 2043 version of the Local Plan but the Four Firsts will remain a core set of principles.

the_four_firsts_charter.pdf
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