From Roy McPherson
Dear Trevor
I read the recent edition and picked up on your ‘gripes’ page; this clearly rings a bell for me as I have become disenchanted with Billericay and am moving out of the area. I came to Billericay 25 years ago when it still retained a village look and feel however what a difference it is today. more...

From Stan Johnstone
Dear Mr. Stansfield,
I have just read the Letter to the Editor in this month's issue of The Resident and would like to add my concern about High Street parking. Clearly, the increasing population is putting further pressure on the available parking (51 new homes on the Billericay School site will no doubt add a further 80+ cars to the traffic).  more...

From Mrs C Geard, 90 Grange Road
Dear Mr Stansfield
Just to say I wholeheartedly agree with the “Letter to the Editor” in this month’s Resident. I would like to add, weeds, which grow everywhere and are never removed. Let’s hope we can make a difference.
Yours sincerely
Mrs C Geard

From Mrs Campbell
Dear Editor
Following the letter from Mr Papworth in this month's newsletter, I felt compelled to respond to your request for comments.  I agree the 'The Resident' is fantastic in appearance and format now but I can see his point regarding the ads which appear to be a large chunk of the content, however not irrelevant just a little unbalanced.  more...

Dear Sir

I am pleased with the style and presentation of The Resident and have some items to perk-up the content as suggested by Andrew Papworth in the last issue. My issues will require a greater amount of campaigning than Andrew’s and could keep you going for a decade:

My concerns are about the ‘Billericay Eyesores’ and I will name only three so that later correspondents can add their own: 

1. The Iron walkway that crosses the Railway alongside the Stock Road       It gives a terrible impression of the town to those driving in it and those driving through the town especially as it is now rusting badly. Paint it or replace it with something more fitting. 

2. The Office Block that houses the Office Shop & Bathroom Shop       A most unsightly building totally unsuited to a High Street of a town such as Billericay. It has been severely criticised in several books on the town. Give it a facelift or replace it. 

3. Buttsbury Infants School        The buildings, seen from Perry Street, even though newly painted are an eyesore. Replace them with buildings that more fittingly reflect the excellent work that goes on inside them. The government keeps boasting about the rate it is building new schools so surely this one should be a prime candidate for attention. 

So with Andrews three and my three and no doubt more to follow your content is assured until all these items are dealt with and that could be 2017 or later.
Yours sincerely, 

Charles Newman – 17 The Priory,   Billericay     CM12 0RD

To, The Editor

I read with some interests the letters to the editor about the car parks in Billericay in September issue.  Last week I went to Boots for a free eye test.  I parked my Yaris behind Woolworth’s car parks.I put 50P into the machine no ticket came out, by then I only had 30P change left.  I wrote a note explaining about it and left it on the dashboard under
the wind screen.  I left the car about 1200 noon, and returned at 1220.  Not to my surprise but my honesty was hurt, for a parking ticket had been issued, demanding £30 or £60 if I delay in making payment.  At least the attendant who issued the ticket should had waited half an hour of my entitlement before issuing the ticket, as I have been to High Street to get my eye tested and returned with some more change.  In the last thirty years as a local resident I have seen some changes in our society; there is no longer a community spirit in this town.  I am an OAP and such kind of fine imposed, makes a dent in the budget to pay the council tax that is already high enough!!  As for the Lake Meadow car parks my wife and I seldom take our Jack Russels since the charge has been imposed not that we are stingy
but on principles.
Your faithfully,
Mr K M Thein

Dear Mr Stansfield
I had to write and say that I agree with everything that Mr Andrew Papworth wrote in his letter printed in the September issue of The Resident. I am glad to put pen to paper and support him. I would like to add about the amount of litter in our town, drawing special attention to the alleyway at the side of the Gooseberry Green shops and also the entrances to the Woolworth car park,
Graffiti is another problem, how sad it is that people risk life and limb to deface other people’s properties. A good idea would be to collect photos of these so called “Tags” and maybe the culprits will be caught. We are fortunate to live in Billericay and I hope the Association will campaign on these issues.
Yours sincerely
C.L.Taylor (Mrs)

Dear Trevor

I read the recent edition and picked up on your ‘gripes’ page; this clearly rings a bell for me as I have become disenchanted with Billericay and am moving out of the area. I came to Billericay 25 years ago when it still retained a village look and feel however what a difference it is today. Some 18 years ago I moved onto the Queens Park estate, the codicils were quite strict e.g. no caravans, no business from home etc. but these seems to be overlooked. On the estate there are numerous walls that move out into a public thoroughfare that were originally in the nearest house owners remit. With the passing of time these have been ignored and many walls (typically bordering car park areas) are now crumbling and in considerable need of repair. I’ve called Basildon Council but they offer little assistance stating that they are certain the ownership could be established but they have neither the time nor resource to pursue the matter however, should a private prosecution but made that’s a different matter. I have no wish to become embroiled in legal issues with near neighbours as it would be both stressful and costly and so the problem perpetuates. Some houses now use their garages as an office depot leaving goods for later loading into yet another white van, and in some cases also leave the strewn debris of the business cluttered on the floor.

I’ve taken the decision to improve my surroundings but lose the ‘convenience’ of the high street and an additionally difficult commute but I believe my quality of life will be bettered and for that I’m obviously glad but also a little sad for my Billericay.

Roy McPherson

Dear Mr. Stansfield,
I have just read the Letter to the Editor in this month's issue of The Resident and would like to add my concern about High Street parking.
Clearly, the increasing population is putting further pressure on the available parking (51 new homes on the Billericay School site will no doubt add a further 80+ cars to the traffic).  I understood that, when the responsibility for enforcing parking regulations passed from the police to the council, the various lines were to be re-painted and traffic wardens were to patrol the area.
No lines have been re-painted and the condition of many would make enforcement tricky e.g. if the line is broken.  Also, the warden is rarely seen in the High Street and vehicles park with impunity, including on double yellows and zigzags.  I have, on occasion, seen police cars pass by vehicles actually parked across the pedestrian crossing near Kambles restaurant and taken no action; no doubt on their way home so not wanting to prolong their shift.
We need more off-street parking and rigorous enforcement of existing regulations to ensure safe passage of traffic.  Re-visiting car park charges would seem appropriate if it helps to get more cars into the proper car parks.
I shall get off of my little soap box now!
Regards,
Stan Johnstone

Dear Editor
Following the letter from Mr Papworth in this month's newsletter, I felt compelled to respond to your request for comments.  I agree the 'The Resident' is fantastic in appearance and format now but I can see his point regarding the ads which appear to be a large chunk of the content, however not irrelevant just a little unbalanced.  I feel the newsletter is an important medium reaching the local community which in the least creates discussion but hopefully helps to achieve some action on local issues.  I can completely identify with the issues Mr Papworth raised, having commented to my husband about the same pothole only a day ago! 
I have a few more issues to add to any list you may be preparing:
1. Blood Test Centre (within the Health Centre, Stock Road grounds)
It has come to my attention that this facility is under annual review by Basildon Council as to its worthiness and viability.  Having used the Centre myself on numerous occasions, the thought that this facility could be closed astounds me.  My mother pointed out that we fundraised as children for the Burns Unit which is now sited in Chelmsford and it would seem there maybe plans to remove this facility too.  Will the elderly people of the community be expected to get on a bus to Basildon Hospital every time they need a blood test?  If that's the case, it is woefully appalling.  Also would there be sufficient parking available to accommodate the Billericay residents needs at the hospital?  They maybe building a multi-storey car park but will this be enough and how much will it cost?
2.  Parking on Hillhouse Drive (Stock Road entrance)
The parking at the entrance to this road is horrifically dangerous, whether it be by train users or St John's School parents.  I regularly use the road to visit family and have witnessed many near misses with people coming from the High Street having to break suddenly from the blind hill/bend as people turning left into the road are unable to do so when someone else is waiting to turn right out of the road towards the High Street.  Then there is the problem of people not allowing others past the parked cars causing all sorts of unnecessary jams.  I would suggest the road needs to be double yellow lined but fear this will just push the road users into The Spinney ad Sylvan Tryst irritating those residents even more.
3. Pavement Repairs
Some 4 weeks ago we were notified that our pavements were to be repaired and a week later unknown to anyone the contractor jet washed the pavements, throwing stones onto everyone's gardens and driveways.  This was outlined in the company's initial information but the date of jet washing was not specified and I'm amazed our car was not damaged as there were stones around it.  Needless to say the actual repair works are yet to be carried out and I can't understand why they would jet wash the pavements if the repair works were not imminent, surely this defeats the object?
4. Baby Parking Spaces
Most family cars are now the size of a regulation parking space making it extremely difficult for those of us with young children to park in a 'normal' car park.  Outlets like Waitrose have done their best to provide good facilities however there are never enough spaces allocated to 'baby' parking, pushing people like me to shopping malls where we are better catered for.  We desperately need more spaces in the High Street especially in the Abbey car park where I think there is only 6 spaces.  They do not necessarily need to be at the front of the car park, we just need more of them to enable us to be able to get the children out of the car with banging doors with the car next to us.
5. Recycling
We all know we need to recycle more and the reasons for it but I feel it is the Council's responsibility to encourage people to do so.  By this I mean providing a greater incentive such as more green bins or garden collection bags.  However I believe another way is to collect the recycling every week and the black bin rubbish every 2 weeks.  This would hopefully force people (in a nice way) to recycle more by making them think more about what they put in the black bags thus reducing the amount of waste to the landfill site.
These are just the few things that sprang to mind after reading the Letter to the Editor article, I'm sure there would be others if I had more time to think about it and I don't claim to have all the answers!  I fully believe the BDRA have a strong voice and it should, where possible, be used to raise these and no doubt many other issues to the District Council etc. to achieve some resolution and better life for the community.

Yours sincerely, Mrs Campbell