As a resident of St Martin’s Ward, who lives literally a five-minute walk from the Town Centre, I often stop to speak to neighbours and other local residents to find out their concerns about the area.

The residents that I have spoken with are, by and large, totally unaware of the Council’s plans for 4,000 flats plus in high-rise towers, some to be more than 20 storeys high, in the middle of the Basildon Town Centre.

Those who are aware of these plans are totally against it.

One might have thought that, in planning these major changes for Basildon, we – the town residents – would have been properly and thoroughly consulted and at least have some say in these plans and developments that are taking place. But Basildon Council, and its Leader, Gavin Callaghan are continuing to push through with these plans irrespective of what the residents think or want. 

The Town Centre does, of course, need renewal but it needs to meet the residents’ aspirations, not the social engineering this administration would see forced on us.

Running a consultation is not the same as consulting the people, especially if the residents have not been engaged in an effective way, empowering us to voice our views on how our town should be developed.

The  “ineffective consultation” recently conducted by Basildon Council, in the middle of a pandemic and exclusively online, would be laughable were it not so insulting to residents.   

Ineffective consultation is no consultation at all.

What is the use of saying that the public have been consulted if most people still do not even know about these developments?

Of what use is a consultation if the residents have not been properly engaged?

Consultation methods and strategies need to be effective for it to be said to have taken place!

These plans are being done “to” us and not “for” us.

Yes, we want a fully utilised Town Centre. One that serves this community and its surroundings to its fullest capacity, and we should be working for a better balance of retail, homes and employment opportunities in the town.

But do we need to resort to high-rise high-density developments in the Town Centre?

Basildon’s future is at stake!

This high-denisity high-rise development is going to leave our town centre as a ghetto in years to come.

The Residents must have their say! 

Do we, Residents, not have a mind of our own?

Can we not make our own  decisions?

Do decisions need to be made for us and be imposed on us without our consent?

We are the ones who have to do every day life in this area. We are the ones that these changes impact the most. So we need to be in the driving seat of this change and not be taken as mere hijacked passengers who have no sense, no voice and no say!

Let the residents come up with their own plan and let the residents’ decision stand.

That’s what consultation is about. That’s what a democratic decision is about.

It’s about consulting the residents for their view. What do the residents think is important to them?

It’s simple marketing research sense - the design and drive to push a product into the market must come from its users, if it is to have any levels of engagement or success.

Change must be informed and shaped by the residents’ views...

This is where the current master plan being promoted and pushed forward by the Council Leader, Gavin Callaghan and his team falls on its head.

Resident’s views cannot continue to be minimised or dismissed!

The clock is ticking; we must to do what we must NOW to stop Basildon Council and the Council Leader, Gavin Callaghan from messing up with our town before it it to late.

If you are against these plans, please sign thIs petition and share as widely as possible, by text message, online and offline.

Let’s make this happen!