Press Release 6  Basildon’s Debt Pile

Above is a comparison of how much Basildon pays in Debt Service compared to Chelmsford and the Essex average.

Chelmsford pays 8p in debt service for every pound of income.

The Essex average is 10p debt service for every pound of income.

Basildon pays 51p in debt service for every pound of income.

This is a worrying concern for all residents, whilst Basildon’s debt pile is not a consideration in the live Local Government Consultation the numbers speak for themselves, residents will be funding debts not services in Basildon for decades.

That’s why we are encouraging Wickford and surrounding villages to use the WickExit website and respond to the consultation which closes on Jan 11. 

This is a one in 50 year opportunity so it is important residents respond to the Local Government Reorganisation Consultation before midnight on Jan 11,  the WickExit website simplifies the process.

For Comment

Cllr Malcolm Buckley 

cllr.malcolm.buckley@essex.gov.uk

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 LGRconsultationresponse@communities.gov.uk

Subject  “LGR consultation - Wickford”

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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

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 WickExiT Press Release 8 

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