SATURDAY PITSTOP WITH ALLEN FORD – 1.9.7

SATURDAY PITSTOP WITH ALLEN FORD – 1.9.7

September’s first Saturday Pitstop covered Billericay and Brentwood stories.  In Billericay the High Street museum is at odds with neighbours Costa and in Brentwood in the week residents closest to William Hunter Way got first glimpse of development plans for the site.

Cater versus Costa in Billericay  

Billericay’s Cater Museum has fallen out with its neighbouring coffee shop.  The dispute started when Costa laid decking at the back of its premises.  The deck has been laid against the 18^th Century Cater Museum’s ancient wall and a Costa sign screwed into it.

That happened last month and now Costa’s agreed the council’s request to remove the sign – happening September 5.  Cater Museum curator Chris Brewster came on air to say the sign was not so much of a problem as the decking.  The museum is concerned its old perimeter walls cannot withstand new decking against it.  Chris said there should be one metre of clear space between the wood and museum premises.

Costa Coffee said in a statement sent to Phoenix FM:  “We were not aware of the wall’s age and are waiting for professional help to remove the small number of screws on September 5.

“With regard to the decking, we think planning permission was not required.  We are in talks with the planners to seek a resolution.”

William Hunter Way latest

Around 50 residents of roads surrounding the William Hunter Way development met builders Halladale to see newest proposals for the town centre spot.  They were shown drawings detailing the following main elements of the scheme:

1.  High Street link

Two new shops and four flats above earmarked for High St/William Hunter Way walkway where former Roseby/Crisp shops stand (both to be demolished).

2.  Shopping centre and cinema
Two large TK Max-type fashion stores, one smaller unit and food store rumoured to be Waitrose

Six-screen cinema run by Apollo above

3.  Multi-storey car park
Offering 660 spaces on four floors, with ‘living walls’ containing earth and irrigation system to sustain plants and greenery

4.   Residential
Fourteen one-bedroom flats at rear of development on Chestnut Grove

5.  One-way road

Running from near Hunter Way’s Western Road junction behind shops/cinema back onto Hunter Way near Sainsbury’s.  For car park access, shop deliveries etc

Swan Paddock Residents Association urged close scrutiny of the planning application expected in the next month or two and letters for or against to Brentwood council.  North Road Avenue resident Terry Baker was shocked how close the access road would run past the end of her garden

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Article by Oliver Rowe, 1 Sep 2007
Posted in Saturday Morning with Oliver Rowe

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