Wickford is a town in the south of the English county of Essex, with a population of more than 33,000. Located approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of London, it falls within the Borough of Basildon along with the original town of Basildon, Billericay, Laindon and Pitsea. However, parts of Wickford fall under neighbouring districts such as Chelmsford and Rochford. Wickford has become a commuter town, serving the City of London through its railway station's direct connection to Liverpool Street station through the Southend Victoria line, on which a train to London takes approximately 40 minutes. The town can also be easily reached via the road network by the A127 between London and Southend-on-Sea or by the A130 from Chelmsford. Wickford is a fairly small town with a main high street including a range of shops. It also has a swimming pool, library, open-air market and a community centre within the vicinity of the town centre. Wickford also incorporates a small estate called Shotgate, which is home to many residents. Shotgate features a row of village shops and a children's play area and park. In August 2018 a group of residents began petitioning to create a Wickford Town Council in order to give residents a stronger voice on local matters.
