In the News: One Year On: Belief is back in Basildon

"Belief has returned to Basildon," said Cllr Callaghan. "You can see it. You can feel it. Over the past year, we've focused on what matters most to local people - and the results are clear." 

In just 12 months, we have delivered on key priorities: 

·         Restored weekly black bin collections, scrapped unpopular waste sacks, and brought back the Crunch bulky waste service 

·         Acquired Westgate, paving the way for new shops, a cinema, hotels, a supermarket, and a Wetherspoons opening in Basildon Town Centre in 2025 

·         Built over 100 new council homes, including at Chapelgate and Cricketers Court, prioritising local families, key workers, and those in need of temporary accommodation 

·         Boosted community safety: saved local PCSOs, switched streetlights back on, reopened Wickford Police Station as a safety hub, installed new CCTV, and invested £270,000 into safety measures 

·         Backed local businesses and skills development with the Basildon Construction Academy, Education Essentials Bursary, and Basildon's largest-ever Skills Show 

·         Secured new health facilities, including a new hospital opening in Eastgate (Autumn 2026) and the Pitsea Community Diagnostic Centre (Winter 2026) 

·         Invested £80 million in housing stock, £16 million in repairs and maintenance, and £10 million to reduce tenant energy bills 

·         Approved 1,163 new homes, generating £16.3 million for local infrastructure improvements 

·         Deployed new pride teams, cracked down on fly tipping, and enhanced our estate environments 

·         Allocated £1 million through Area Committees to deliver grassroots projects, and provided £11,000 in Warm Home Guarantee support to 1,000 older residents 

·         Refreshed the Basildon First Charter, ensuring all new homes are first offered to Basildon residents for up to 12 months before going to wider markets 

·         Protected green spaces, launched a successful Summer of Sport, and welcomed record-breaking visitor numbers to leisure centres and theatres. 

"One year on, I'm proud to say change is happening - and it's for the better," added Cllr Callaghan. "We're fixing the basics while building a better future. Basildon deserves no less." 

"We're not finished - we're just getting started. Thank you for believing in Basildon again. The progress we've made together is only the beginning." 

Ends 

Published 2 May 2025.