Statement: William Hunter Way

Brentwood North's Liberal Democrats have released the following statement:

"We welcome the Gazette's investigation as to the current status of the William Hunter Way development and find the information uncovered very useful, as despite numerous requests we have not been given any information from the administration in relation to the scheme. In fact, we as ward councillors have been excluded from all meetings held between the Council and other parties involved in the project

"Residents in the surrounding area are living with a cloud over their heads and over the last few weeks speaking to residents they continue to raise huge concerns and we are unable to tell them anything as we do not know either. It is a complete shambles.

"It is our opinion that the scheme is simply not viable. Since this scheme was approved in 2009 Lakeside have made a proposal to develop the shopping centre there to the tune of £180m and the newly built and stupendously successful Westfield at Stratford (just 20 minutes away on the train) is busily eating in this scheme's potential customer base.

"We urge the Council to take this scheme back to the drawing board, offer residents a full and proper consultation and come up with a scheme that unites Brentwood, as opposed to dividing it."

County Cllr Barry Aspinell, Cllr Ross Carter, Cllr Philip Mynott & Cllr James Sapwell