A VISION FOR ROCHFORD
Response to Market Square Consultation

1 May 2014

MY CREDENTIALS

I write as a Resident with 75 years' experience of Rochford and the surrounding area; as a person seriously interested in architecture, planning and development and with considerable personal experience.

I am the Holder of a Civic Trust Award for a major building in Southend. A Civic recommendation for my Mews in Islington and my own home in Rochford has featured in Pesnver's Essex and also the destination for architectural visits.

I have also visited Corbusier's building in Marseille and Chapel at Ronchanp, as well as buildings of architectural merit in New York by Mies Van De Rohe and F. L. Wright and studied Foster and Rogers and their colleagues, now amongst the World's Architectural Leaders.

Corbusier does not travel, as demonstrated by the stained concrete pastiches defacing the South Bank.


PRESENT PROPOSALS

I read Rochford's proposals, not only as a Resident, but also a person intensely interested in their nature.

I am saddened and disappointed by the recommendations promulgated in the Consultation document. Rochford's central area can be clearly seen as disagreeable and ineffective amalgam of ill-conceived ideas from the past. The new proposals seek merely to make the best of a bad job, lacking any imaginative or creative rethinking in a wider context.

An overall bold and effective appreciation had never been made of the present and future needs, although there has been much vogue Planning mumbo jumbo. Most of this seems to cover everything but people and the real new infrastructure . Now more than ever we must consider the impact of the substantial development of residential, commercial and industrial property in the area and its demands upon the Rochford Town Centre. We must realise that Rochford is no longer a small village around the local Region's communication hub. It has now become a vigorous and fast developing town in its own right and deserves rather better than the limp proposals put forward.

Sadly, Rochford has already lost its way with its boring and dysfunctional central area and unworkable traffic plan for a key communication centre with its rapidly expanding hinterland.

It has also failed to recognise the true importance and repercussions of the regeneration of the Airport to the region as a whole.

ROCHFORD TODAY

The Council offices have devoured most of the east side of the historic South Street, moving into unsuited retail and residential property. The Planning Department now occupies the site once used by the Village Ironmonger and subsequently the Gourmet restaurant. The Market Square has become chaos, arising from a fatal planning decision to reverse the Square's traffic flow. This main traffic intersection is now obstructed by vehicles backing up from the Square obliterating the Planning office, perhaps poetic justice!

The Market Square was semi-pedestrianised in the hope that some people might relax in the shade on gum spattered paving in deep shade outside a small eatery; enlivened occasionally with wind tunnel-like draughts up West Street. I have never seen anyone actually using the sitting out area. It was forgotten that the whole of the Southern part of the Square was overshadowed by some high and mostly faceless buildings opposite. One of the few parts left with any character is a charming old stone drinking trough now dwarfed by a recent neighbour, a kitsch plastic looking pump - more suited to Disney. The paving of the Square has become an incoherent patchwork of different materials, representing passing ideas.

Such past developments do not bode well for the future, as appears from the recommendations put forward. These seem to be a series of unsupported ideas and gimmicks or design clichés. All that can be drawn from views expressed today with any certainty is the gut reaction of "Don't get rid of the parking and vehicles"; quite right too.

There is a ghastly example nearby of which I am too well aware. This is the Southend Precinct. The Planners there had attempted to replace a high street which worked with a central paved precinct area and ring road; equal disasters.

The Precinct from dusk becomes a deserted ominous and bleak stone desert, in which pedestrians fear to tread. It does provide an excellent arena for skateboarders, muggers and other undesirables. It has now become a no-go zone despite desperate efforts to humanise it again. Likewise the new bleak multi-million Pound so-called Town Square, where unsurprisingly there is not a soul to be seen.

The ring road has become a garrotte around the Town Centre, the fate of nearly all ring roads (North Circular, M25 and now overdue for the next outer ring) and even the original Heathrow with Gibbard's central Terminal.

We do not want such thinking for Rochford. Fortunately, there is a now a unique opportunity to get it right with good taste and design for today and tomorrow. If only we can now take the courage to achieve it. Fortunately, the solution is possible and staring us in the face.

THE WAY FORWARD

The start point for the future must be to define our objectives. What do we want to achieve - a happy comfortable prosperous and convenient Town Centre - the beating heart of our local community.

My thoughts are coloured by my childhood memories of Rochford before the last War. I used to enjoy watching the metal rims being sweated onto the wooden wheels made by Taskers, just down South Street; or Bacon, the Blacksmith flying his craft up North Street, the Delph café facing the Market Square, the local rendezvous and Starkings traditional grocers in a charming 18th century House at the corner of the Square, with its candy column fenestration and within its skilled cheese cutting to the ounce and bacon slicing, then the Thursday animal market. It was a real place and it worked. Now let's endeavour to seek the modern equivalent. This is to strengthen and make welcoming the Market Square and its environs - achieve the right balance.

The elements of a successful Town Centre include Shopping, Residential, Commercial plus Industrial nearby for more jobs. This element is already thriving to the South. It needs to be convenient in that it can be reached easily, both by people and the goods/services it requires, by car, bicycle (increasingly important), bus and on foot.

I recommend that the architecturally non-descript buildings between the Square and North Street are demolished with generous compensation, to provide the extra space needed, as they have become irrelevant due to the addition nearby of 2 new purpose built convenience stores with better facilities. The present block is of poor quality and design for their key position and in the wrong place - a veritable eyesore!

If this block which is way past its shelf life is removed, the whole Centre can breathe again and the people and the traffic flow once more. The additional clear open space will act as a catalyst to release the central area from the follies of their predecessors.

The North and East side of the Square which gets some sunlight should be mainly retail, possibly with residential accommodation over. I hope it would contain a coffee shop or Bistro, which could spread outside when the sun shines. The cars, taxis, buses and dropping off/picking-up could then be on the east side, taking advantage of the extra space, with the remainder used as space for pedestrians and minimal quick parking.

The Planning office would be swept away to a better location, then shops would return to the part of South and North Street nearer the Square where it should be; thus consolidating the shopping in the central area to everyone's benefit. This would be the Square itself with the nearby top part of North, South, East and West Streets. All the Town Centre requirements including banks, Assembly hall (the WI building and nearby Freight House) within easy walking distance, plus associated catering and social drinking to everyone's enjoyment.

Back Lane would still be needed for servicing and West Street for reduced vehicular use. Vehicles would be encouraged to take the North loop around the old hospital area. The awkward railway bridge would need straightening (plenty of room), then traffic could flow easily. The existing adequate but somewhat remote parking could remain.

An ideal new location for the Council offices would be the old Police Station, which has plenty of room at the back for development. The Council's existing historic house would be very close.

The fewer offices the better, as too much spare space tends to fill with extra people. A little hot- desking and longer hours might help, so the same building has far greater utilisation. Long hours doesn't necessarily mean people working longer, but shift working on a part-time basis.

Rochford is within the most dynamic part of the County for growth. It has everything going for it with the regenerated Airport, rapidly developing high-tech industry, improved roads and rail transport, not forgetting the impact of Crossrail in 2018, a thriving new container port, all helping to bring new prosperity to the whole area.

Rochford has water on three sides; the Crouch, Thames and North Sea. It is embraced by green fields and parks, with excellent recreational facilities. It is a communication centre hence North, South, East and West Streets! All that it needs is to come alive again with an attractive, welcoming and functional central area and the people with the courage and vision to make it happen.