| Nobody can fail to be aware of the result of last Thursday’s choreographed insult to the concept of local democracy. |  |
We saw the start of what some hope will be the transformation of the Borough of Basildon, and with it the town of Billericay, into a suburb of London. We also saw the punishment of the 35,000 residents of Billericay for daring not to vote the way the current administration of Basildon Council believes we should.
Accompanied by a puppet show as slick as any episode of Pinky and Perky (suspect many of you aren’t old enough to know what that means!) – if you closed your eyes you could pretend you couldn’t see the strings - all 22 members of the Labour, UKIP and assorted Independents groups raised their arms in unison to vote against any Conservative amendment and for the adoption of the flawed Local Plan. (That’s not quite true as one string broke and by the time it had been repaired they’d moved on to counting abstentions so one vote had 21 against and 1 abstention.)
Whilst the 16 Conservative Councillors fought a fine rearguard action, especially Councillor Baggott again, the result of the evening was never in any doubt, although some might say that means there was predetermination by the 22, which is naughty.
One has to feel sorry for the people of Hovefields & Homily, and those of Bowers Gifford, who had produced their own plans which had the support of their residents, would have provided thousands of extra homes and would have improved their communities but were turned down for not meeting the masterplan of Council Officers.
Questions also need answering by our Prime Minister. At every opportunity last night we were told that we have to meet Government housing figures, and they are only rising. Every new house in Billericay means more loss of Green Belt. Yet our Prime Minister continues to claim her desire to protect Green Belt. Is she lying or is she just being ignored by our Council Officers? Perhaps our MP could find out?
On the previous Monday evening our Chairman, speaking to the Council, said that it would be unfortunate if the Plan were to be rejected at the next stage of the process for lack of soundness due to arrogance and complacency now. Last night they compounded those weaknesses with insult and incompetence. Just how many of the assembled 22 actually opened their mouths, other than to breathe, during the several hours of the show?
The fight is not over. We now move on to the Regulation 19 Public Consultation on the soundness of the Plan. One point to remember is that on the previous Consultations the people who analysed our responses were the same people who had prepared the Plan we were commenting upon. Not particularly transparent. At Regulation 19 our responses go to the Planning Inspector.
In the coming days we will begin to prepare for the next round of activity and one thing is certain. We WILL be looking to everyone to become involved.
So many thanks to you all for your support over the last 4 years, yes it’s that long since we formed, and for continuing to believe that, despite setbacks, what we are doing is right for the residents of Billericay, current and future.
Whilst the 16 Conservative Councillors fought a fine rearguard action, especially Councillor Baggott again, the result of the evening was never in any doubt, although some might say that means there was predetermination by the 22, which is naughty.
One has to feel sorry for the people of Hovefields & Homily, and those of Bowers Gifford, who had produced their own plans which had the support of their residents, would have provided thousands of extra homes and would have improved their communities but were turned down for not meeting the masterplan of Council Officers.
Questions also need answering by our Prime Minister. At every opportunity last night we were told that we have to meet Government housing figures, and they are only rising. Every new house in Billericay means more loss of Green Belt. Yet our Prime Minister continues to claim her desire to protect Green Belt. Is she lying or is she just being ignored by our Council Officers? Perhaps our MP could find out?
On the previous Monday evening our Chairman, speaking to the Council, said that it would be unfortunate if the Plan were to be rejected at the next stage of the process for lack of soundness due to arrogance and complacency now. Last night they compounded those weaknesses with insult and incompetence. Just how many of the assembled 22 actually opened their mouths, other than to breathe, during the several hours of the show?
The fight is not over. We now move on to the Regulation 19 Public Consultation on the soundness of the Plan. One point to remember is that on the previous Consultations the people who analysed our responses were the same people who had prepared the Plan we were commenting upon. Not particularly transparent. At Regulation 19 our responses go to the Planning Inspector.
In the coming days we will begin to prepare for the next round of activity and one thing is certain. We WILL be looking to everyone to become involved.
So many thanks to you all for your support over the last 4 years, yes it’s that long since we formed, and for continuing to believe that, despite setbacks, what we are doing is right for the residents of Billericay, current and future.
