I am writing to you because I understand that there is a plan in the pipeline to demolish half of Hockley High Street. If there is I would like to register I and my husband's stong concern about such a badly though out proposal.

We have heard no mention of this plan till the beginning of April this year and we understand that it has been discussed for two or three years. As residents of Hockley and users of the relevant shops we should have been given the opportunity to register any complaints against the scheme we are likely to have and take part in meetings and disucssions. That is surely our right as residents of this area. Could it please be explained to us why a meeting about Hockley High Street was arranged to take place as far away as Hullbridge?

Hockley has a character very much its own and it does not want to become just another town with the usual chain of shops. The High Street could not possibly take any more traffic generated by more houses, businesses or shops and they would spoil the village atmosphere. There is no room for them anyway in this little corner of Essex. Where would all the extra facilities be built, the doctor's and dentist's surgeries, the schools which are bursting at the seams now, not to mention sewerage, water, gas and electricity. The roads into and out of Hockley are also at bursting point..have any of these questions been considered before these plans were mooted?

This is a blatant waste of money in this 'credit crunch' climate. The money could be better spent helping businesses in Hockley High Street who are struggling. I again say I strongly register our disapproval of such an outlandish scheme. We do not want to see three or four storey buildings in what is an old typical Essex Village.