I wish to make the following comments concerning the above document:

I notice that the document is dated January 2009. I was unaware of any plans for redeveloping Hockley until I happened to notice a comment in an article in the Echo recently - a paper I do not usually read. I then asked for information of the traders in Hockley and was told about the public meeting on Sunday April 19th. The meeting, which was organsied by a private resident, was very well attended and the overwhelming majority of people appeared to be in the same position as me - very recently aware of the Action Plan. Your method of consultation, therefore, appears to be inappropriate, untimely, and totally inefficient.

Despite the limited time I have been given to read the document, I give my initial reactions below:

1. Hockley is a village - not a town. Your own research has shown that the residents of Hockley enjoy living somewhere with the feel of a village. Every one of your proposals would appear to detract from this aspect.

2. Increasing the housing to the extent planned when Hockley does not have the infrastructure to support the increased population is unacceptable.

3. The proposed increase in population and the building of a supermarket substantially larger than the current Somerfield will increase traffic on a road system that is already running at full capacity. I live on the High Road and can testify to the amount of traffic passing at all times of the day.

4. Large supermarkets have regular and frequent deliveries by HGVs. The current deliveries to Somerfield cause bottlenecks and build-up of traffic - the roads in Hockley are not wide enough to cope and the pavements cannot be narrowed without considerable inconvenience to pedestrians.

5. The possiblity of using Compulsory Purchase Orders will adversely affect the ability of businesses and private individuals to sell/rent. Is the Credit Crunch not doing enough damage already?

I suggest that it is the interests of the Council to extend the consultation period in order that residents may have the chance to express their views. I quote from the Action Plan 'Your views are needed to help us to assess whether we have fully considered all the issues and opportunitys facing the study area and have adequately assessed the potential future options for development of the area'