Why do the council interpret 'making improvements' as 'we want supermarkets and large car parks in Hockley' or 'we want to tear down existing buildings to make way for more flats and/or houses'. Yes, there are sensible improvements to be made and I expect these would be welcomed but I do not see why a strategy for development of Hockley village (or any other village for that matter) must be large scale/all or nothing. The village does not need to be anything other than self-sufficient (for want of a better term) and disproportionately disruptive or major changes are not required. A sledgehammer 'solution' is not required.

I believe the softly-softly approach IS possible. This must be our starting point rather than submitting to those who have no concern or empathy towards Hockley village and think they know better than those who live here. So, even if making improvements may be a daunting task, if softly-softly is the approach that Hockley residents would like to take why should it not be so?