FIRST ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31st, 1950 - (Part 2)
COMMUNICATIONS
Road problems from the development of the new town have already become apparent through the growth of Pitsea and Laindon. A satisfactory route for the carriage
of petroleum products from the Shellhaven Refineries to the north and east must be found to replace existing routes through heavily built up areas. Particular
attention is being paid to the improvement or realignment of route A.13 through the tortuous High Road of Vange and Pitsea, regarding which a public enquiry
had been held prior to the establishment of the Development Corporation. It has also been necessary to determine the road entry to the new town from the
north-east since it will service the Nevendon Industrial Area. Means are being sought to divert northbound through traffic from Laindon High Road to a route further west.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
General
The Engineering Department was not established until December, 1949, due partly to the Corporation's inability to find a suitable Chief Engineer, and partly
to lack of accommodation. The period under review therefore consists of 3-4 months only with an average strength of three officers, headed by a Senior Engineer,
and it has been devoted largely to building up the Department and exploratory work.
The scope of the work of the Department comprises:
Survey.
Soil Survey.
Roads.
Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Works.
Surface Water Drainage.
Supply and Distribution of Water, Gas and Electricity.
Survey
It is proposed that all sites for development will be surveyed in full detail. Site plans will be prepared to a scale of 1/500 and contours will
be shown at 1 foot vertical intervals.
The first survey, comprising an area of about 200 acres at Nevendon proposed for an Industrial Area is now in progress.
Soil Survey
The soil survey of the area has not yet been started. Generally speaking, the sub-soil consists of Essex clay and this is both shrinkable and
sulphate bearing. It is certain that special measures will have to be taken in construction on this account.
Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Works
Billericay U.D.C. is the Sewerage Authority for the whole of the area where development is likely to take place. The area to be developed falls
into four separate drainage areas and three of these are to some extent sewered already. The existing sewers are on the separate system and it is proposed to adopt this generally
for the new town. There are three small sewage works dealing respectively with the discharges from Laindon, Pitsea/Vange and Basildon/Nevendon, as well as with other development
outside the designated area and, generally speaking, these are already working to capacity. A very large proportion of the existing properties, however, depend upon cesspools.
It seems probable that the most economical method of dealing with the sewage from most of the new development will be to collect it at one or perhaps two
main sewage treatment works, and attention is being directed towards finding the most advantageous site or sites. The ultimate discharge of the effluent will be as at present to the
River Thames Estuary and/or to the River Crouch.
The need for an early start on the construction of new trunk sewers and further sewage treatment works is urgent.
Surface Water Drainage
The surface water drainage of the designated area is mainly towards the River Crouch, but the south-eastern portion drains towards the River Thames Estuary.
The existing drainage system towards the River Crouch, both within the designated area and north of it, is somewhat unsatisfactory.
A certain amount of flooding takes place under storm conditions. This is partly due to the impervious nature of the clay sub-soil and partly to the rather
steep north slopes from Langdon Hills and Vange Hills, from which there is a rapid run off to very flat areas below.
This condition will tend to be aggravated as development proceeds. Preliminary discussions have taken place with the Essex Rivers Catchment Board on the question of improvement to their
watercourses, both within and below the designated area.
There are very few surface water sewers in the area at present. It is proposed to design a system entirely separate from the foul sewers.
Water
Practically the whole of the designated area is in the statutory supply area of the Southend Waterworks Company. A very small area is supplied by the
Billericay U.D.C., which obtains the water in bulk from the South Essex Water Company. The Southend Waterworks Company have advised that they will be unable to
supply the requirements of the new town from existing sources, but if the scheme for a new impounding reservoir at Hanningfield at present under the consideration
of the Ministry of Health, is approved, it is expected that the Company will have no difficulty in meeting the requirements of the new town, with a margin for further expansion if necessary.
Electricity and Gas Supply and Distribution
The supply and distribution of electricity is the responsibility of the Eastern Electricity Board, who state that they will be able to
cater for the electricity requirement of the new town.
At present most of the existing development has electricity available, and the distribution is generally overhead. It is
proposed that the distribution mains to the new development will be underground and it is hoped that ultimately all existing overhead distribution will disappear.
The supply and distribution of gas is the responsibility of the North Thames Gas Board. The existing distribution system is rather better
than other services, but considerable expansion will be necessary to meet the new town requirements, including new gas holders sited within the area.
Main Roads
Preliminary discussions have been held with the County Surveyor of Essex and with the Divisional Road Engineer of the Ministry of Transport.
Essex County Council is the Highway Authority for all the classified roads. The Corporation will therefore bear in mind the County Council's
specification in order that its projects may be acceptable to the County Council.
Detailed design work is in progress for part of a proposed new alignment for the road B.1011. This will provide a main feeder road into the new
town from the London-Southend Arterial Road (A.127). The proposed road will also serve as the access road to Nevendon Industrial Area.
On-site Roads and Sewers
Billericay U.D.C. is the authority for unclassified roads and for sewerage.
The Corporation, in proceeding with the provision of on-site roads and sewers, is taking account of the bye-law and other requirements of the Urban District Council in
order that there shall be no difficulty in their eventual adoption.
An application for bye-law approval covering the initial development of roads and sewers at Nevendon Industrial Area has been deposited with the Local Authority.
District Heating
The Corporation has decided that it would be uneconomical to adopt any general district heating system.
ESTATES
Industry is the key to the successful establishment of a balanced and self-contained community, and special attention has therefore been given to industrial development.
The Corporation has already submitted proposals for the development of some 180 acres south of the Arterial Road at Nevendon as an industrial estate, and negotiations for the letting of a total of 13 acres on this site for
the erection of two factories are well advanced. In addition negotiations have been completed for the erection by the Corporation of a small factory of 9,000 square feet. Negotiations
are also proceeding for the erection of two medium sized factories for two industrial concerns who wish to move from East London.
ACQUISITION OF LAND
The Corporation has acquired Gifford House, Bowers Gifford, a small house standing in one acre of land—for use as offices. They have also acquired Devonshire House, Basildon,
a small dwelling house with a small holding attached, on compassionate grounds.
The Corporation is acquiring by agreement approximately 224 acres of land at Nevendon for development as an industrial estate.
In accordance with your directions, the Corporation has limited its proposals for acquisition to land required for development in the immediate future.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
The existence of much scattered development of a semi-urban nature presents to the Corporation a problem of peculiar difficulty. Many of the existing inhabitants are
old age pensioners and many again eke out their livelihood by cultivating small holdings. There is a widespread apprehension among such people that the development of
the new town will ultimately involve the loss of their freeholds; some welcome the amenities and improved standards of living that the new town may be expected to provide,
but fear that they might not be able to afford them. The decision to develop a new town of Basildon is therefore viewed with mixed feelings by many of those who live here.
In addition, the effect of various enactments governing the compensation to be paid by the Corporation for vacant possession inevitably restricts the sale of houses within
the designated area, and in certain cases causes genuine hardship, thus hindering the Corporation's efforts to win the confidence and co-operation of the inhabitants.
Close consultation has been maintained with official and unofficial bodies, and relations with Local Authorities and Statutory Undertakers are good.
FINANCE
Accounts
The audited accounts of the Corporation over the period from its incorporation on 3rd February, 1949, to the 31st March, 1950, are set out on pages 44 to 49.
The Balance Sheet on pages 44-45 shows capital expenditure for the period amounted to £30,656, incurred mainly on adapting existing premises for the Corporation's
Headquarters and establishing the necessary technical and administrative resources.
Structural extensions were also begun towards the financial year end, and the cost is included in the above figure of expenditure.
The total outlay has been defrayed by advances from the Exchequer totalling £32,300, which bear interest at 3 percent, per annum. Details of the allocation of these sums are given on page 46.
The Revenue Account on pages 48-49 shows the cost of administration, after making the necessary appropriation to capital account and crediting
income, at £22,964, of which for this year one half at £11,482 has been capitalised; the other half at £11,482 is repayable to the Corporation by the Ministry as an outright grant for the purpose.
Financial Administration
The Corporation has prepared comprehensive regulations based on the budgetary system to deal with the control and accounting of all income and expenditure.
Financial relations with Statutory Undertakers, etc.
During the period covered by this report no financial arrangements have been made with statutory undertakers or local authorities under Section 11 of the New Towns Act, 1946.
L. H. KEAY,
Chairman.
Title: Basildon Development Corporation - First Annual Report for the period ended March 31st, 1950 Publisher: Printed and published by His Majesties Stationery
Office. Comments: This report was reproduced in its entirety, unedited and unabridged. The report was taken from a publication entitled: 'NEW TOWNS ACT, 1946 - Reports of the Aycliffe, Basildon, Crawley,
Harlow, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Peterlee, Stevenage & Welwyn Garden City Development Corporations for the period ending 31st March, 1950.' It was Presented pursuant to Act 9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 68, section 13
(6) and Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 20th November 1950. | 
