History

Twenty years ago the heating system was written off as scrap, fit only to be torn out and replaced with individual gas heating systems. That’s what the residents wanted, that’s what our MP wanted, that’s what made the best economic sense. Unfortunately Basildon Council thought they new better and did nothing.

Today, twenty five years on NOTHING has changed!. The system is still hopeless. Our heating bills are still twice as high as comparable homes in Basildon and the service we get is still appalling and now St Georges have decided on a plan that says we can have 30 more years of the same. St Georges are legally required to consult with the residents BEFORE making any plans. Instead they called a meeting after they had made plans, to tell us what they were doing. That’s not consultation!

The MP,s Statement to Parliament.

- In 1990 there was every reason to believe that the hopelessly inefficient and costly heating system was going to be condemned to history. After years of leaks, Failures and massive expenditure It had become obvious to everyone, except a few priveledged members at Laindon Area Office that the way forward was to finally scrap the heating system, use the service ducts to efficiently and cheaply run gas to every house and allow every home on the estate the luxury of convenient, cheap independent Central Heating. The figures added up, it was the cheapest long term option for the residents and the our MP was convinced it was the only way forward. In a statement to the House of Commons our MP stated,* ‘The CNT has bequeathed the estate and its residents the last collective heating system in Basildon, which was installed by Ove Arup and is now 20 years old. It is expensive to maintain, and very unreliable. The estimated cost of installing individual gas central heating would be between £1 million and £2 million, and the council has taken steps to initiate a technical report specifically on the issue in response to residents' requests. Given all the problems which residents have suffered, it would be equitable if CNT was prepared to finance all or part of the new heating system, and that is what I am asking for.’. Mysteriously, this best option was overlooked in favour of spending over £1.5 million on the current system, and awarding a lucrative contract to Waltham Forest Energy Services , to continue heaping misery and huge heating costs on everyone. Why was that? Profits?

* House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 Mar 1990. Column 42