BATTLE lines have been drawn by campaigning residents as they vow to fight against potential plans for 17,000 homes on green belt land across Basildon.
“Say No To Building On Our Green Belt” signs and banners have been put in place across Billericay as residents vow to to protect their precious green spaces from development in Basildon Council’s emerging local plan.
The council has launched a consultation with residents over proposed sites, which could see more than 27,000 homes built in the borough by 2043, and 16,928 of those homes built on green belt.
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According to the list of sites, Billericay could be hit with 4,170 homes and residents are uniting against the plans - arguing the land is not suitable for such large-scale development.
Billericay Action Group, a network of residents that campaigns to protect the green belt around the town, said that while they support the need for a comprehensive local plan, the current draft is not fit for purpose.
A spokesperson for the group said: “The housing target is much higher than the true local need and that leads directly to the loss of valuable agricultural land right across the borough, the majority being green belt.”
They added: “We need a good plan, but this isn’t it. We call upon local residents to make their views known through the consultation period. Basildon Council is asking for our input. Let’s hope they listen.”
Jacqueline Crowder lives door to a proposed green belt development site on London Road and runs a voluntary meditation space and ashram from her home.
“I help people through meditation and a lot of my clients come because of the peace and quiet. It’s a sanctuary, a safe haven and all of that will be disrupted if these homes are built,” said Jacqueline.
“I’ve collected and submitted over 100 letters from people I’ve helped, saying just how much this development would disrupt what I do here.”
In addition to following the work of Billericay Action Group, Jacqueline is also a member of an informal residents group based around London Road.
The groups are currently calling on residents to make their concerns heard through the council’s local plan consultation process.
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