The Wickford Action Group was set up in 2005 to campaign against the proposed Town Centre Masterplan. Our first major activity was to hold a public meeting on 22 March 2007 in the Community Centre, which was attended by 5 Councillors and over 200 people, plus many others who couldn't get into the room. Although the Masterplan is now dead and buried, we continue to fight for a better Wickford, with any increase in housing being supported by sufficient services (roads, schools, doctors, policing, etc.)
Other topics of interest to residents, such as job vacancies, items for sale, entertainment events, sporting and leisure activities etc., are better covered on other sites and so are not included here.
We aim to support ALL Wickford residents, and also those from Runwell and nearby villages, who come into the town to shop and use the town's facilities.
We strive to be 'non-political', and although we each have opinions, we don't discuss our own individual political leanings. We do clash with Basildon Council occasionally, but this is on specific incidents where we disagree with their decisions, and is nothing to do with Tory / Labour / Lib Dem etc.
In recent times we have not been so active for a number of reasons:
- Covid has prevented face to face meetings.
- key members have been elected to the Council as Wickford Independents and have been able to actually achieve results.
- other members have transferred their energies to the upcoming Wickford Town Council.
Events may lead to other changes in the future, and in the meantime, as website secretary, I will try to keep the site ticking over.
The Wickford Action Group Facebook pages are where I hope you will keep us residents informed of any building developments you hear about, and is the place for a lively exchange of views.
John Rushton
Secretary & Website developer