Meeting call over masterplan (From Thurrock Gazette)

Meeting call over masterplan

11:03am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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RESIDENTS came out in force to ask questions about the Development Corporation’s North Grays Masterplan at the weekend.

Dozens of people packed into the clubhouse at Blackshots Athletic Stadium to view an exhibition of the plans which are out to consultation until August 3.

But many residents are angry that the Development Corporation hasn’t set up a public meeting where they can ask questions as a group, and some said they hadn’t received anything at all in the post about the consultation.

Ken Gayler of Victoria Avenue said: “The DC is supposed to inform everyone in the area of what is going on but nobody in Victoria Avenue has received anything.

“They need to their act together, if people haven’t got the letter then they can’t write back and air their views.”

Gary Gray from Woodside said: “We don’t want an exhibition- all we want is a meeting where its structured and we can all ask questions as a group, but the DC refuse to do this.”

Ward councillors Joy Redsell and Ben Maney were also at the exhibition, they too called for the DC to hold a public meeting.

The Development Corporation has set out three options in the consultation.

The majority of the masterplan area is open land to the south of the A13 and is allocated as green belt land.

The plans include a commercial development at the Treacle Mine roundabout, housing at the Thurrock and Basildon College site, housing on the current Blackshots Leisure Centre site, and the removal of Daneholes Roundabout.”

Councillor Maney said of the plans: “All of these options are controversial.

“There’s a lot of angry people here today, the DC have got a real fight on their hands.”

Spokesperson for Thurrrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Sarah Barnes said: “Experience from previous Masterplan consultations confirmed support for public exhibitions which allow individuals or small groups to raise queries which they were not comfortable doing at a public meeting.

"Exhibitions also offer flexibility of time and location which, in turn, encourages responses to the consultation."

To view the North Grays Masterplan go online to www.northgraysmasterplan.org.uk.

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