Are there any other options for Site D?

1. As a historical town the general upkeep and maintenance of buildings is essential, working with retailers and residents alike.

2. The market square I feel should be pedestrionised, the car parking at present continues to present problems and interfere with the traffic flow in West Street. West Street should be only accessible to buses and delivery traffic. It this area was permanently pedestrianised, it could provide further usage of markets from Italy, France as Southend Council already have and is popular with the general public, this in turn would bring more people to Rochford and thus providing more busisness for retailers.

There is always need for road improvements especially with the increasing traffic and introduction of new housing.

The opportunities of redevelopment exist where land has lain derelict for sometime eg the Forge opposite the Rose and Crown. Thought should be given to extending the retail units on that side. Lane such as this is an open invitation for 'fly tipping' and is an eye sore.

Decisions for redevelopment should be made sooner, preventing long delays in building eg the West Street development which is near completion, thus providing a better appearance to the town.

I hope these comments are helpful in your deliberations in improving the town centre.

Re: Rochford Town Centre Area Action Plan: Issues and Options

Thank you for consulting the Historic Environment Branch regarding the Rochford Town Centre Action Plan. Whilst this document mentions the historic environment, this principally relates to the built environment with no reference to the significance, potential survival or impacts the proposals would have upon any surviving below ground archaeological deposits. It is essential that this document includes reference to these important deposits as they form an essential part of the history of Rochford town and help provide a sense of place to the settlement.

To ensure that the historic environment is appropriately considered within this document the following changes are recommended (in bold):

1.7 Thirdly, Rochford Town Centre is a designated Conservation Area (Policy BC1 of the Rochford District Replacement Local Plan) and has a strong historic character and a number of cultural and heritage assets that are important to preserve or manage. Thus any development that takes place will need to be extremely carefully managed.

1.9 The focus for the AAP is the defined town centre boundary as illustrated on the current Local Plan Proposals Map. The historic heart of Rochford Town Centre is the Market Square.........

1.10 The town centre includes a high number listed buildings, sites of significant archaeological potential and it has a high intrinsic value.

1.14 Alongside the regional and local planning policy documents, there are a number of other documents (Rochford Futures Study; Annual Monitoring Report; Urban Capacity Study; Employment Land Study; Conservation Area Appraisal; Retail and Leisure Study, Rochford Historic Town Assessment) and Rochford Historic Environment Characterisation Project, that explore the issues that Rochford is facing. These documents have fed into this Area Action Plan and are also summarised in Appendix A.
(Additions for Appendix A Rochford Historic Town Assessment: Comprises an archaeological and historical assessment of Rochford, It forms part of the Essex Historic Towns Survey which is an extensive urban survey as defined by English Heritage).

2.7 Table 2: Character

Rochford's Town Centre is defined by its historic character. The built form is of a fine grain and relatively small, intimate and human scale. It has a very high intrinsic quality. The Market Square is at the historic heart of the town and surrounded, in the main, by attractive buildings looking onto it. The town has developed about a medieval cruciform pattern of streets, which come together at Horners Corner to the east of the Market Square.


2.15 For the purposes of this study a thorough understanding of the historic environment character is essential to understand the area's special qualities and the reasons why it has been designated as a Conservation Area. A full understanding will ensure that any solution is derived from these special qualities thereby enhancing its local distinctiveness. All of Rochford Town Centre is a Conservation Area, designated in 1969 and later extended. In 2007 Rochford District Council produced a Conservation Area Appraisal, which sets out and explains the special characteristics of the area. It is accompanied by a Management Plan that sets out measures to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area. The key elements of these documents will need to be reflected in any solutions brought forward.

2.16 Generally the special character of Rochford Town Centre is comprised of the interrelationship of the following elements:

• A well preserved historic medieval market town centred on a cross roads and market place
• A collection of historic buildings of high architectural quality many of which are listed
• A characteristic medieval and post medieval street plan comprising axial roads, infilled market, Back Lane and irregular frontages all of which illustrate the settlements medieval origins and high potential for surviving archaeological deposits.

Figure 3: Heritage and Conservation
This should include the extent of the historic core as identified in the Rochford HEC and Historic Environment Record

2.42 Table3 - Summary of Issues for Consideration in Rochford Town Centre

Conservation and Heritage

• Rochford Town Centre is a Conservation Area with a picturesque historic core and a collection of buildings of high historic and architectural quality, some are listed

• Rochford has a fine grain of development with intimate spaces of human scale, good enclosure which should be respected in any new development

• Any developments in the town centre will need to respond to this context having regard to the detailed analysis carried out in the Conservation Area Appraisal

• Any developments within the town centre and its immediate hinterland will need to fully consider the cultural assets and the high potential for the survival of significant archaeological deposits and the requirements for appropriate preservation or mitigation.

The following provide additional information for the issues which should be added to the appropriate sections where that option will involve the redevelopment of that area.

Option A Issues

Any development option for Site A will need to consider the potential for extensive urban archaeological deposits surviving within the area of the Market Place, and the impacts the development will have upon this resource.

Option B Issues

The full or part pedestrianisation of the Market Square, Site B, will need to consider the potential for extensive urban archaeological deposits surviving within the area and the impacts development will have upon this resource.

Option C Issues

Any development option for Site C will need to consider the potential for peripheral urban and industrial archaeological deposits surviving on the fringe of post-medieval Rochford and the potential impacts the development will have upon this resource.

Option D Issues

Any development option for Site D will need to consider the potential for urban archaeological deposits surviving within Historic core of Rochford and the impacts the development will have upon this resource.

Option E Issues

Any development option for Site E will need to consider the potential for peripheral urban and industrial archaeological deposits surviving on the fringe of post-medieval Rochford and the potential impacts the development will have upon this resource.

Option F Issues

Any development option for Site F will need to consider the potential for archaeological deposits surviving on the fringe of post-medieval Rochford and the potential impacts development will have upon this resource.

Option G & H Issues

Any development option for Sites G & H will need to consider the potential for peripheral urban archaeological deposits surviving outside the present built area of Rochford and the potential impacts development will have upon this resource.

Options J Issues

Any development option for Site J will need to consider the potential for peripheral archaeological deposits surviving outside the Historic core of Rochford and the potential impacts development will have upon this resource.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Site A Redevelopment:

2 storey market hall or improved street scaping - para 1 or 3 depending on how it is done.

Paragraph 2 - This area is not suitable for residential use as there will be no parking facilities. Parking is a big issue in the area. The Spar building and adjoining shops are totally out of keeping with other buildings in the square. However, the Spar shop as a business is very useful. Perhaps it could be moved to old library premises. We also need the bakers shop. A restaurant is a good idea. Too much emphasis on retail outlets in Rochford when present ones are not even occupied! We don't need more.

Site B: I favour paragraph 3 of options. Shops need access for loading etc. Disabled should be catered for - free parking at Old Ship Lane quite a good idea. Restaurant quite good idea but there are several in the vicinity already. Would it work? The buses are not the problem in the square it is cars waiting to park that cause congestion. You cannot have full pedestrianisation of market square, it won't work.

Paragraph 1: Options

Short term parking in Back Lane good idea.

Paragraph 6: Options (Taxis)

Station house taxi rank headquarters good idea.

Site C: Paragraph 1 Options

The Old petrol station site definitely needs redevelopment as residential. However, the One Stop site would be unpopular as a lot of people use it, especially probably commuters. Maybe One Stop would be better where Whittinghams is. Although, I suspect this would not be an option.

Site D: Paragraph 1 Options

Redevelop for residential use a good idea. At moment totally out of keeping with town.

Paragraph 2 Options

This seems a waste of space. Needs redevelopment.

(or)

Alternative Suggestion

Switch use of shops and car park so that car park is nearer to public house as it seems too far away at moment. This would also help parking for town centre perhaps.

Site E: Whittinghams, therefore would be better used for residential. Maybe One Stop could be relocated to the top end of railway car park - by the Old Station House.

Paragraph 1 Options

Good idea for residential development.

Site F: Paragraph 3 Options

Maybe lower half of ground used by Maison Renouf Hotel could be utilised by Council for further parking, as this seems to be in short supply. But not in favour with yet more retail outlets to stand empty.

I see no necessity to alter Bradley Way. After all it was created to alleviate congestion which it does. Parking space on reservoir side only may be good. If your worry is that people do not use the reservoir and green area enough could we not have some form of heritage information centre at entrance in Bradley Way. Also freight house car park could possibly be used for people visiting the green area.

Site G: Paragraph 1 Options

Back Lane car park is essential to be kept as it is with short stay facility and possible extension into part of site F (not all).

Paragraph 2 Options

Definitely no no no to residential development on sight G.

Site H: Definitely no to moving doctor's surgery.

Agree primary health care service extension may be necessary, at some stage but what type is not clear. No info. (Ridiculous that most of Rochford Hospital was closed and given over to residential development in the first place. This is what took trade away from Rochford because visitors used our shops.)

(The loss of Rochford Hospital was a tragedy, as most people could foresee.)

Site J: Not many people are even aware that this car park exists.

Paragraph 1 Options

If this is a viable proposition then it seems a good idea if it is not a problem for people living in the area.

Site K: Paragraph 1 Options

All sounds very good.

Paragraph 2 Options

Sounds good.

Paragraph 3 Options

No idea how this is going to be of benefit. Not in agreement at present.

There are no play areas in the town. I wonder if it would be possible for some swings, roundabouts, etc to be installed on the reservoir site near to the Freight House? I know you used to periodically have a small railway ride for children there but I have not seen that for some time.

A play area and perhaps cafe would encourage people to use the area.