New hope has been inspired over the future of the former St Charles site after it emerged the Government was set to scrap plans for a Secure Training Centre (STC) in Brentwood.
Cautious optimism has been expressed that a more appropriate housing development could emerge at the Weald Road site if the Youth Justice Board's plans end up on the scrapheap.
Residents, Brentwood Council and Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles have been united in their opposition to the proposals for a 40 place STC for persistent young offenders.
They are delighted by this set back, but now hope that the community will finally see a development emerge that everyone can support.
Council leader Cllr Vicky Cook said: "We do not want a question mark hanging over this site for years to come with a possibility that this Government or a future government trys to develop it.
"We need to continue putting pressure on the Government to make sure we do eventually get a development which is acceptable."
A major spending row between Home Secretary David Blunkett and Chancellor Gordon Brown has put the STC building programme at risk.
Leading campaigner Bob Goodier said some kind of housing development would be a welcome alternative.
More in this week's Brentwood Gazette
Published Thursday October 17, 2002
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