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LATEST PRESS RELEASES
26/3/26 Basildon and Thurrock Councils Essex's Ugliest Twins will be a nightmare for taxpayers.
13/3/26 The Coop Saga! Is Basildon Council's Leader Running sacred of Wickford Residents?
2/3/26 "External Auditors Request Independent Probe Into Basildon's Finances"
8/2/26 "Dictator Callaghan": Former Council Leaders Slam Basildon Leader's Plan to Cancel Local Elections
Local Government Reorganisation Consultation Closed Jan 11 2026
We will publish the governments response in March 2026
Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock
Published 19 November 2025
Boundary Changes
The consultation states that existing district council areas should be the building blocks for proposals for new councils. It was also clear that, " If a Council believes that moving boundaries (so splitting a district area) between the proposed new councils would achieve a better outcome, this would be considered if there was a strong justification."
What is a WickExiT?
A WickExit is Wickford and Villages (Noakbridge, Crays Hill and Ramsden Bellhouse) leaving Basildon's boundaries and joining the new proposed Mid Essex Council.
WickExit is possible because of the boundary change provision in the Local Government Reorganisation Consultation.
It's a once in a 50 year opportunity to join our neighbours in Runwell and be part of a brand new Mid Essex Authority to align our services with :
The Community
Health Services
Education Authority
Emergency services
Transport & Infrastructure Planning
We have made a "5 Reasons To Leave Basildon " letter explaining why a WickExit works better for Wickford and Villages.
Sadly none of the proposals will have the scale of Essex County Council, it's a badly thought thru policy but the government is going ahead anyway.
Essex County Council (ECC) wants 3 Councils to cover Essex.
There are also proposals for 4 or 5 Councils in Essex.
ECC prefers the 3 councils model.
Our "5 Reason To Leave Basildon" letter covers all options, 3, 4 or 5 councils.
The mostly likely outcome is 3 Councils.
Basildon would join a Thurrock to Southend Council
Or
WickExit! Join a Chelmsford based Council
Don't forget! the Local Government Reorganisation Consultation closes on Jan.11, 2026. READ the "5 Reasons To Leave Basildon" letter, below.
"Basildon's Debt Pile Is Over £700 Million and It's All On Taxpayers"
You maybe unaware that since 2017 Basildon has piled on £400 million of debt, the total debt pile is now over £700 million pounds with another £50 million expected for a 3500 seat Arena.
Strangely enough no political party ever mentioned that £40-50 million Arena and Basildon Council's own report noted the Arena was not commercially viable.
It seems Basildon politicians know better than industry experts and are determined to build it with taxpayers money.
How To Make A WickExiT?
Wickford's Essex Councillors have done the paperwork to make a WickExit legally possible.
Getting the government to agree is the hard part.
We need a huge response to the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) consultation to make the government listen!
Residents in Wickford, Noakbridge, Ramsden Bellhouse and Crays Hill can respond to the Consultation.
Wickford Park Councillor George Jeffery's "5 Reasons To Leave Basildon" letter covers all the reasons to join Runwell inside the new Chelmsford boundary.
Just COPY and PASTE and SEND
Tell Your Family, Neighbours and Friends.
Your Response Counts!
WickExiT In 4 Steps
TAKE ACTION TODAY
1 Send an Email to this email address
LGRconsultationresponse@communities.gov.uk
BCC Wickfordsos@gmail.com
so we can keep track of the campaign
Subject Line “LGR consultation - Essex - Wickford”
2 Copy and Paste my letter below into the email, make changes , add comments.
3 Change the <TAGS> to your name and address, at the bottom of the letter
4 Share this page to Family, Neighbours and Friends
Copy Everything Below
Change The Name & Address TAGS
At The End Of My Letter
Click on this email address to open your email account or copy and paste
LGRconsultationresponse@communities.gov.uk
Subject “LGR consultation - Essex - Wickford”
COPY AND PASTE BELOW INTO YOUR EMAIL
Dear Sir
Across every model, Wickford should leave the Borough of Basildon and be placed within a Mid-Essex authority.
This reflects how the area already operates in practice and ensures that administrative boundaries match reality. The case is demonstrated across key public services:
• Church & Community: Wickford and Runwell form one Church of England parish (St Andrew’s, St Catherine’s and St Mary’s) with joint activities and community projects. They function as a single civic community, not a Basildon-centred one. The current boundary is impractical, even splitting a house between authorities.
• Health Services: Wickford’s Primary Care Network sits within the Mid & South Essex ICS footprint (Basildon & Brentwood). London Road Surgery in Wickford serves both Wickford and Runwell, with its catchment already extending into Runwell. Health provision recognises a Mid-Essex relationship, not a Basildon-centric one.
• Education: Runwell Community Primary School serves the village, and secondary provision is predominantly through Wickford / Basildon-area schools (e.g., Beauchamps High School). Educational pathways clearly align Wickford and Runwell together as one community.
• Emergency Services: Essex Police publish a Wickford neighbourhood area that includes both Wickford and Runwell. Essex Fire & Rescue list Wickford Fire Station as the local on-call station serving the area. Operational response already treats the communities as one unit.
• Transport & Planning: ECC’s A Better Connected Essex programme places Wickford within the Mid-Essex transport planning area. Aligning local government boundaries with this transport footprint supports coherent infrastructure investment under a Mid-Essex authority.
Therefore, under every model being considered, Wickford should be transferred away from Basildon Borough and placed into a Mid-Essex authority. This would align administration with the community that already exists in practice.
Kind Regards
<YOUR NAME>
<YOUR ADDRESS>
<YOUR POSTCODE>
#WickExiT Thanks For Responding
#WickExiT Thanks For Responding
What's Next For WickExit?
What's Next For WickExit?
Consultation closed jan 11, we will publish the governments response in March 2026
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