I wish to register the following objections and comments regarding the above consultation:

Option 1: Object: Insufficient benefits. Although the majority of residents do not want major redevelopment of Hockley centre, Option 1 would be a wasted opportunity to incorporate potential improvements to retail, housing, businesses, healthcare, leisure, parking and road networks without affecting the character of the village.


Option 2: Support but with enhancements. Benefits over Option 1 include:
Retains the village character of Hockley but with some opportunity for retail, housing (including affordable housing), business and leisure development
Provides flexible employment opportunities
Provides additional on and off-street parking in Spa Road, Eldon Way and at Hockley Station (including improved pick-up/drop-off points)
Removal of the first industrial building in Eldon Way allows development of a good size parking area accessed from Eldon Way (safer than current Spa Road entrance/exit), plus modernised office, light industry and leisure facilities. The car park would be suitable for shoppers and staff in Spa Road and Main Road, allowing the car park behind the library to be used primarily for the new community centre and other establishments in Southend Road such as the Old Fire Station and the Catholic Church
Provides consolidated and new leisure facilities in Eldon Way with improved safety features
Provides improved links from Spa Road to Eldon Way, from Spa Road to Southend Road, and from Hockley Station to Eldon Way
Provides new community centre incorporating healthcare and library
Provides the opportunity to change retail units in Main Road to housing, subject to retail performance

Possible enhancements to Option 2 include:
Modernised single storey retail units at 34-40 Spa Road
Relocation of the clinic into the proposed new healthcare centre allowing development of new homes on the current clinic site
Relocation of post collection to the post office allowing development of new homes or retail or a combination of both at the current sorting office site
Some housing development close to Hockley Station

Issues with Option 2 include:
Insufficient improvements at the Spa roundabout to support both HAAP and the Core Strategy
The funding challenge without the support of major housing and supermarket developments:
Public realm improvements
Additional on and off-street parking which is essential to support retail outlets
Removal of first industrial building in Eldon Way to allow developments
Development of the new community centre
The necessary support from landowners
Disruption to shops, businesses, services and traffic flow during development


Option 2a: Object: Similar benefits (and issues) as Option 2 but inappropriate changes including:
Flats above modernised retail units at 34-40 Spa Road would create a 2 storey facility which is not feasible due to the proximity of the houses behind
Disruption to shops and services for a long period during the redevelopment of the supermarket and sorting office area. Shoppers would have to shop outside of Hockley and may not return. Older residents and non-drivers would not be able to cope




Options 3: Object: Over development and inappropriate changes. Option 3 involves major redevelopment in both the shopping and industrial areas, including development of 149 homes and a large supermarket, and is not appropriate for the following reasons:
It changes the character of the village to that of a small town
Inadequate infrastructure to support 149 new homes (and associated vehicles) in terms of school places, healthcare provision, community services, utilities provision, and road networks
Housing includes 80 homes on Eldon Way Industrial Estate against the wishes of local residents and creates additional traffic in Eldon Way
There would be a loss of 2 large Industrial/leisure buildings on Eldon Way Industrial Estate for housing
The large supermarket does not have adequate space for parking and shoppers would have to take trolleys to new parking areas at Hockley station which is not practical and would drive shoppers to supermarkets outside the village that have adjacent on-site parking facilities
Small local shops would not be able to compete with a large supermarket
The sorting office would be taken away and probably combined with Southend or Chelmsford
There would be a disruption to shops and services for a long period during the construction of the supermarket. Shoppers would have to shop outside of Hockley during this period and may not return. Older residents and non-drivers would not be able to cope


Option 3a: Object: Over development and inappropriate changes. Option 3a has similar issues to Option 3 except that the 80 homes on Eldon Way are replaced by 40 homes at the railway sidings and car park in Plumberow Avenue. Although this alternative retains the 2 large Industrial buildings on Eldon Way, there are further issues of additional traffic at Plumberow traffic lights, and homes close to the railway line.


Transport options: Object: Insufficient Highways infrastructure improvements to the key junctions at Spa roundabout, Eldon Way, Station Approach and Plumberow Avenue which need to be determined and in place prior to HAAP or Core Strategy implementation.