I HAVE been fortunate over the years to have been in discussions with both the Development Corporation and the Commission for New Towns over the future development of Basildon as an entity.

This has included such items as the potential provision of a monorail at first floor level in the town centre, new statues, revised layouts etc.

At no time was the idea mooted of completely destroying the original concept of a town centre devoted to retail, office space, eating establishments and a modicum of leisure activity.

It has taken a socialist to come up with that concept.

The idea of 28-storey buildings dwarfing St Martin’s and its now, truly iconic belltower, fills me and I know many others with dread.

It would seem that the dream of the present administration councillors is to create a “Mini Manhattan” here in Basildon.

That is not to mention that the recently completed container cabin market seems now to have been incorrectly placed in the new scheme of things. Whose money has been wasted to achieve that result?

Can they not learn from even recent history?

Tall blocks of flats in Laindon were demolished because they caused too many problems for both occupants and local residents.

Brooke House has been the site of constant problems with lifts breaking down and tenants who were not suitable for the concept of living in tiny enclosed spaces housed there.

Now we learn that an “iconic” multi-storey building is planned for the former Staples/telephone warehouse site.

Marks and Spencer is to have enormous 28-storey blocks of flats as a replacement, 17 to 20-storey high-rises are to replace four-storey shops and offices in place of a bank, pub etc. It is not often I agree with Vin Harrop but in this case his opposition to the proposed destruction of Basildon is 100 per cent correct.

VICTOR YORK

Buller Road, Laindon

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