Council holds first estate action day

Basildon Council held the first of its estate action and improvement days in Ghyllgrove, Basildon, on Friday (13 September).

Officers from across Basildon Council including street scene, planning enforcement and housing, joined forces on an estate walkabout where they spoke to residents and identified issues with the aim of improving the neighbourhood.

The day focused on four streets, Roodegate, Brempsons, Rokells and Pomfret Mead.

Officers visited over 320 properties and cleansed, de-weeded and trimmed bushes and hedges around garage and communal areas. They also identified future works, removed four flytips and issued one Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

Officers assessed the external appearance of nine properties as being untidy and subject to further planning enforcement action.

Twenty-eight suspected houses of multiple occupation (HMO’s) were visited and eight properties were inspected with one found to be a large HMO of 10 tenants, which was unlicensed and a breach of planning control.

Leader of Basildon Council Councillor Gavin Callaghan added:

“Our “We’re Cleaning Up” campaign focuses on the way our communities’ look and feel but it’s not just our street scene teams who are responsible. Officers from across the council play their part and that’s why we’ve taken this joined up approach by visiting these streets together to get under the skin of the real issues. We’ll be running this kind of event in other areas sending out the clear message that we are here to improve our communities.”

Chair of the Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee Councillor David Harrison added:

“There is no place for those who flytip and litter and if our officers see any evidence of that they will take action. However, these estate action and improvement days are also about education and our teams will be there to offer help and advice.”

Following Friday’s estate action and improvement day a special crunch mobile tip service was organised for Saturday between 9am and 12 where residents could take their large items for collection.

To find out more about the council’s “We’re Cleaning Up” Campaign visit www.basildon.gov.uk/cleaning-up

Image: Cllrs David Harrison, David Burton-Sampson and Gavin Callaghan in the foreground alongside council officers.