Chantry Way Project

Published: 07 February 2019

Two weeks ago at a pre-demolition meeting with contractors, Billericay Town Council discovered that two squatters had moved into the Chantry Way Centre by forcing open an emergency exit. We immediately instructed lawyers and on Friday morning the Magistrate’s Court in Basildon gave the squatters 24 hours to leave or face arrest. On Saturday morning Court appointed bailiffs and Police attended, however, the squatters had already left. Our demolition contractors GBM immediately boarded up the doors and secured the site with Heras fencing.

We are thankful to our solicitors and to the Magistrate’s Court for a quick resolution, however, sadly it is the Town Council and therefore Billericay residents who will have to pay the costs associated with the eviction. These include legal costs, costs in bringing in fencing earlier than planned along with additional sums for boarding windows and doors and potentially a “bio-hazard clean” of the building prior to its demolition to remove hazardous detritus. Full costs are still being gathered but these will certainly a few thousand pounds.

We are awaiting the final disconnection of the gas services (which had to be delayed because of the squatter’s arrival) but once that happens the building will be demolished and work can continue on the new Chantry Way facility.