Plans to build a 46-acre park for residents of a rapidly expanding Wickford housing estate look set to be given the final go-ahead.

The scheme has won support from residents of The Wick following a recent consultation exercise.

However, they have expressed concerns the development might become a magnet for vandals and graffiti artists.

Basildon Council's community and leisure committee looks set to give the plans the green light at its meeting on Thursday - clearing the way for officers to draw up detailed proposals.

Wickford area committee councillors have already backed the plans, which will feature a six-acre fishing lake, a picnicking area, an information centre and a children's adventure playground.

In early April, 2,500 leaflets were delivered to houses on The Wick summarising the proposals for the country park.

As a result, a total of 235 responses were received by the May 2 deadline - a response rate of almost ten per cent.

A report prepared by council officers said: "All respondents welcomed the development of the country park as a positive contribution to the public facilities available to the residents of The Wick.

"The highest number of comments related to residents' concerns that the development might be subject to vandalism, graffiti, horses, etc, and encouraged the council to take appropriate measures to prevent such damage."

A total of 46 respondents were concerned about general security issues ranging from graffiti to patrols by park rangers and 35 about problems associated with dogs.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.