Updated: Basildon Golf Club decision ‘ plain wrong’

Basildon Labour MP Angela Smith led a parliamentary debate on the decision by the Environ-ment Agency to allow building waste to be brought on to the course.

Protesters against the scheme fear there will be up to 12,000 lorry loads of rubbish taken to the site, over a six-month period. Mrs Smith is angry at Basildon Council for allowing the company Jack Barker Ltd to reshape the course's contours with 120,000 tonnes of rubble.

During her speech, she told the Commons about the impact of bringing landfill on to the site, just off Clay Hill Lane, Bas-ildon.

She said: "Depending on the size of the lorries, that could be between 8,000 and 12,000 lorry loads of waste over a six-month period.

"Besides the huge am-ount of traffic thundering through Basildon's streets we have to wonder about other implications.

"I'm trying to visualise what 120,000 cubic metres of waste looks like. We could rebuild Hadrian's Wall and it could go from Basildon to Westminster and back again, and still have some left over."

Mrs Smith highlighted other environmental concerns, including the impact on birds of prey, adders, butterflies and bees. The Basildon MP also attacked the council for handing over control to Jack Barker Ltd.

She said: "The decision by Basildon Council is utterly incredible, it's incomprehensible and just plain wrong. I'd like to see far greater efforts to keep it public, in the control of the council and accountable to residents.

"Basildon Council's in-transigence on this issue has left no option to residents but to raise their own money and fight this through the courts."

Campaign delight at Commons speech

THE Friends of Basildon Golf Course welcomed Angela Smith's comments during the Commons debate last night.

Members of the group have vowed to keep fighting the decision to allow the course to be reshaped using thousands of tonnes of rubble.

The group of campaigners have raised £14,000 to fund a full judicial review.

Mick Toomer, chairman of the group, attended the debate in Parliament and said: "For legal reasons Angela avoided making mention of the issues on which our judicial review is based.

"She totally demolished any argument the Conservative councillors could raise in their attempts to justify this discredited proposal.

"The Friends of Basildon Golf Course can hold their heads high."

He added: "One of our objectives has been to get the facts into the public arena.

"Now the Basildon Golf Course landfill scandal has been brought to the attention of Parliament for the second time in recent weeks.

"Angela's brilliant speech in Parliament was yet another milestone, but there's a lot more to come.

"Watch this space."

Earlier this month, a High Court judge ordered a review into the controversial decision to allow thousands of tonnes of rubble to be brought on to the course.

Mr Justice Sir Andrew Collins delighted the campaigners by clearing the way for a full judicial review.

The High Court will look into whether Basildon Council should have the £1million plans to use spoil to reshape the course.

Campaigners' delight at Smith's debate

THE Friends of Basildon Golf Course welcomed Angela Smith's comments during the Commons debate last night.

Members of the group have vowed to keep fighting the decision to allow the course to be reshaped using thousands of tonnes of rubble.

The group of campaigners have raised £14,000 to fund a full judicial review.

Mick Toomer, chairman of the group, attended the debate in Parliament and said: "For legal reasons Angela avoided making mention of the issues on which our judicial review is based.

"She totally demolished any argument the Conservative councillors could raise in their attempts to justify this discredited proposal.

"The Friends of Basildon Golf Course can hold their heads high."

He added: "One of our objectives has been to get the facts into the public arena.

"Now the Basildon Golf Course landfill scandal has been brought to the attention of Parliament for the second time in recent weeks.

"Angela's brilliant speech in Parliament was yet another milestone, but there's a lot more to come.

"Watch this space."

Earlier this month, a High Court judge ordered a review into the controversial decision to allow thousands of tonnes of rubble to be brought on to the course.

Mr Justice Sir Andrew Collins delighted the campaigners by clearing the way for a full judicial review.

The High Court will look into whether Basildon Council should have the £1million plans to use spoil to reshape the course.