The chairman of Basildon Council is flying out to Holland this week for a special conference about new towns.

At Thursday's meeting, Geoffrey Buckenham will meet counterparts from Ireland, Scotland, France and the Netherlands to discuss new towns and their future development.

The trip's costs are being met by project organisers, through European funding.

A spokesman for NEWTASC - new towns as Sustainable Communities - said: "The aim is to meet with other new towns to discuss common issues and offer solutions to some of the problems specific to new towns, such as low image, social exclusion, town centres, skills and employment."

Published Tuesday January 20, 2004

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