Comment

Core Strategy Preferred Options (Revised October 2008)

Representation ID: 3321

Received: 25/11/2008

Respondent: Mr and Mrs Rogers

Representation Summary:

We are losing shops in the Town Centre, due to a large raise in rents, so we are told. There is no competition with regard to supermarkets for those who cannot drive. We have to pay extortionately higher prices for less that a best quality goods. Apart from our excellent butcher! We have too many eating places and we now have another just opened!

Full text:

I have just received information from the Hockley Residents Association regarding the Rochford District Council's new Core Strategy Preferred Options.

It would have been nice to have been fully informed of all the proposals which have been put forward with regard to Hockley Town Centre, new homes etc but it appears that we have only been given "certain" figures i.e., 1700 new homes in the Hockley Area.

I feel that there a a number of points which need to be raised before such changes can be made, to the benefit of all who live in Hockley and the surrounding areas.

I have actually lived in Hockley for just under 5 years and in that time have seen an alarming increase in traffic clogging up the main roads during the peak rush hour times. This means if I have to drive during those times, exiting Woodlands Road takes far longer than it should, traffic builds up along the main road and just getting to Rayleigh takes at least half an hour (three miles). This is before the proposed cuts in Public Transport so there will be even more people on the roads. Parking in Rayleigh is almost at its limit so where will all the extra cars park?

Why does to council do nothing about people using residential roads as FREE car parks. I have drawn this to the attention of the Police and Council. We have a more than adequate Car Park so why can't they enforce parking restrictions on all residential roads and I don't mean charging residents to park outside their own homes. At least put in place restrictions such as no parking before 10 am up to 12 noon and say 3-5 pm. Most of those parking are either Mums or people who work in Hockley, therefore their revenue would help brighten up the Town Centre.

Are we to get a new School to take care of new children in the area? Westerings School creates havoc now in my road Kilnwood Avenue, with mums parking irresponsibly across drives on both sides of the road etc etc (blah blah been over this no end of times with the Council and Police).

We are losing shops in the Town Centre, due to a large raise in rents, so we are told. There is no competition with regard to supermarkets for those who cannot drive. We have to pay extortionately higher prices for less that a best quality goods. Apart from our excellent butcher! We have too many eating places and we now have another just opened!

If the Airport expands with no road infrastructure and the A127 is not widened, we will become a no go area due to excessive traffic and Hockley would lose it's appeal to those who wish to live in a more rural, peaceful area. The same goes for places like Ashingdon, Rochford etc. It takes me back to the problems they used to have in Margate, Ramsgate etc where there were no decent roads and no businesses moving into the area!

We don't want to become part of the "Greater London" suburbs. That's why we moved here!

I think I've said enough but will be at the meeting on 9th December!

Happy Christmas