More than 50 residents packed out the public gallery at Wednesday night’s Basildon Council planning committee meeting in the hope of persuading councillors to vote down the proposals and the save the green belt land.
However, despite their pleas councillors voted through Gleeson Land’s plan to build 250 homes on ancient woodland known as Firth Wood next to Laindon Road, Billericay.
Residents created eye-catching signs to make their voices heard (Image: Gavin Taylor)Prior to the meeting, 286 objections had already been submitted in opposition to the plans. Members of the Billericay Action Group and residents – also opposing the inclusion of up to 4,170 homes in Billericay in the local plan – were left devastated as councillors nodded the plans through.
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The residents assembled outside of the council’s offices ahead of the meeting (Image: Gavin Taylor)“The public gallery was full and overflowing to the extent to which they had to have a second room with a live video for all those who couldn’t fit in,” said resident Gavin Taylor.
“Ten speakers got up to voice their concerns, which is the council’s limit at meetings, and our MP thought the issue to be so serious that he also sent a letter to the committee.”
At the meeting, Burstead’s Conservative councillor, Kevin Blake proposed a deferment on the vote. But it was defeated five to two. The vote to approve the planning application then passed five to two.
The public gallery was overflowing on Wednesday evening (Image: Gavin Taylor)Vanessa Carter added: “Residents are extremely angry issues raised were ignored and devastated this was passed.
“The application received 281 objections from the residents. There were so many public speakers against, the public gallery was full to the brim and there was a motion to defer – how can so many be ignored?”
CGI plans of the development show streets of modern houses (Image: Gleeson Land)Among resident concerns around the plan is the belief the land selected for development is “top-tier arable land”, Billericay’s infrastructure will be strained and the council’s evidence is flawed.
In addition to hundreds of homes, the development will feature car parking and new access points for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
Mo Larkin, independent councillor for Nethermayne, voted for the plan. She said: “I am not a nasty person and felt sorry for every single person objecting, I’ve even been in the same situation myself in the past. However, I also have young people, including my own grandchildren, coming to me and saying they have no prospect of buying a house. We’ve got to be sensible about this issue – we need more houses.”