Option WR1 - WR4

Once again the report states that "The infrastructure that could be delivered within the site has the potential to benefit the wider community" How can this be substantiated and what are the potential benefits? It is not clear.

The Core Strategy requires the following infrastructure to be in implemented in developing in this location: local highway capacity and infrastructure improvements, public transport service and infrastructure improvements, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, and links and enhancements to local pedestrian, cycle and bridleway networks. This must include highway capacity and infrastructure improvements in Southend District which is going to bear a significant impact from this development.

Appropriate highway mitigation must be implemented to address the negative highway and traffic impacts of this proposal. It is difficult to see how this would be possible at the Ashingdon Road/Bradley Way/Hall Road mini roundabout.

Rochford town centre needs to be expanded and improved to ensure that it attracts the new residents and reduces the potential for unnecessary car journeys elsewhere. This should be at the developer's expense.

The sites should include a grocery shop/newsagent in order to reduce travelling by car.

The argument that taking this green belt for housing would have the advantage of providing a strong, defensible green belt boundary is illogical. The existing boundary could easily have been defended if it was expedient to do so.

The report is misleading. These sites are NOT close to Rochford railway station. An average distance to the station is around 1 ¼ kilometres plus any additional distance within the site. That is not close. It is a 17 to 18 minute walk at least. It is concerning when the report appears to contain bias or inaccuracy.