🏗️ Wickford Town Centre Regeneration

• Tribute to Late Councillor: Mr Mark Francois paid tribute to the late Councillor David Harrison, who dedicated many years to serving Wickford and was a former mayor of Basildon borough. He extended condolences to Harrison’s widow and family.

• Economic Challenges in Wickford: The town has faced challenges, especially post-Covid, with closures of banks and retail outlets on the high street leading to reduced footfall. However, Nationwide has committed to keeping its Wickford branch open.

• Infrastructural Developments: The police station, closed for years, is planned to be redeveloped into a community safety hub. Greater Anglia has confirmed plans to rebuild Wickford station, starting this summer and aiming for completion by the end of 2026.

• Business and Retail Growth: A new McDonald’s is opening in the former Prezzo site, expected to boost high street footfall. Local businesses have formed a Business Improvement District (BID) to help revive the local economy.

• Concerns Over Local Plan: Mr Francois expressed strong opposition to Basildon Borough Council’s draft local plan, which proposes constructing 27,000 new homes by 2043. He argued that the local infrastructure, particularly medical facilities, cannot support such development.

• Supermarket Site Issue: The focus was on the redevelopment of the old Co-op supermarket site. Currently in poor condition and affecting parking availability, it is the subject of a planning application by Heriot to build a new supermarket and flats. Mr Francois urged the council to approve this plan.

• Asda’s Involvement: Asda has been negotiating with Heriot about the site, but has been slow to make decisions, causing frustration among constituents. Mr Francois has requested a meeting with Asda’s executive chairman to push for a decision.

• Government’s Role in Town Centre Regeneration: Minister Alex Norris expressed commitment to supporting town centre regeneration and economic growth across the UK. He highlighted initiatives like high street rental auctions and banking hubs.

• Support for Local Initiatives: The Minister endorsed the establishment of the Wickford BID and offered to meet with them, particularly after the expected decision from Asda. He also stressed the importance of local communities in shaping their town centres, supported by government resources.

• Licensing and Business Rates: Plans for reforming business rates and a licensing taskforce to aid the hospitality sector were mentioned, aiming to support the high street’s growth.

The session on Wickford Town Centre Regeneration exhibited a moderate level of disagreement, warranting a rating of 2 out of 5. Several key points from the transcript reflect this assessment:

1. Explicit Disagreement on Policy: Mr. Francois expressed strong opposition to Basildon borough council’s proposal to build 27,000 new dwellings by 2043, citing inadequate local infrastructure. This disagreement was directed towards local policy rather than towards the Minister directly, but it illustrated a significant point of contention on how development should proceed.

   Example: - “I am strongly opposed to the council’s proposals to try to cram 27,000 new dwellings into the borough by 2043, including some 4,200 in and around Wickford itself.”

2. Mild Disagreement on Devolution: There was a mild disagreement between Mr. Francois and the Minister, Alex Norris, regarding the government’s devolution agenda. Mr. Francois indicated he did not fully align with the government’s approach to devolution, although he refrained from escalating the disagreement.

   Example: - “On one level, I am loath to intervene on the hon. Gentleman, because he is being so charming and I do not want to spoil the moment. Just to place it on the record, on devolution, I do not quite see it the way that he and the Government do.”

3. Alignment on Core Issue: Both speakers shared a common goal of improving Wickford town centre and showed frustration with Asda’s decision-making process, indicating a level of agreement on the primary issue at hand. This commonality tempered the overall degree of disagreement.

   Example: - From Mr. Francois: “As someone who was there said, I can say that it was not exactly Asda’s finest hour.” - From Alex Norris: “One thing that I wrote down as the right hon. Gentleman was speaking was that I would not want to be Asda in this case.”

4. Supportive and Collaborative Tone: Throughout the session, the Minister maintained a supportive and collaborative tone, expressing willingness to assist with local issues and acknowledging the efforts of Mr. Francois and his community. This cooperative attitude mitigated potential disagreements.

   Example: - “I totally agree—…I hope that Asda leans into that, because that will be very important indeed.”

In summary, while there were clear points of disagreement, particularly on local planning and devolution, the session was characterized by a general spirit of collaboration and shared frustration with external factors like Asda’s delays, leading to a moderate level of disagreement overall.