112 Main Road

I was surprised to receive your letter dated the 9th February 2011, regarding local heritage assets, which suggested identifying buildings that are considered to be of local historical or architectural importance and to give them additional protection through the planning system.

I live on the corner of Main Road and Folly Lane in Hockley, in one of the oldest houses in the area dating back to the early seventeenth century. Although the property isn't listed, it is however classed as a building of special interest, yet your department still granted planning permission for a car washing business directly opposite me in Folly Lane which I was not notified about until six months after it began trading. The car wash is not at all in keeping with the surroundings; it should have been positioned well away from a residential area. The site is an absolute eyesore and produces an unacceptable amount of noise pollution; there are also floodlights on the site that shine directly into my windows, hardly ensuring the protection and sympathetic enhancement of heritage properties that your letter suggests. I hope you can appreciate that the property, especially the Essex weatherboarding, requires a lot of upkeep, yet the carwash sprays jets of water which drift across the road onto my property from 7am until 7pm, seven days a week. I wonder if you had considered the long term effect and consequences on this local heritage asset when you granted planning permission for this monstrosity.

I would be happy to hear your views on this matter.

think we should protect this. We should protect all properties in hockley that have a historical or village style and all new properties should be in line with this. Such a terrible thing that the Doctors house was knocked down for flats. There should be a mechanism to ensure that residents are aware when this is likely to happen, for example if we had known we would have considered moving to that house to retain it, obviously we wouldnt have known the cost and may not have been able to afford it, but there should be a mechanism to keep it in the hands of people that care about the heritage of the village and not the people who simply want to make profit at all costs.

Draft Revised Local List - Hockley, Ch.11

Hockley Public Hall - Bullwood Road SS5 4RA
I disagree this hall is of no historical importance. Of late 19C, it was erected on land given for that use by Mrs Tawke - a noted local figure. It was central to local activities, being for most of 20C the only hall where all public meetings were held. It should remain on the Local List.

Brooks Cottage, Greensward Lane SS5 4SX
This was an agricultural cottage attached to Pulpits Farm, itself on the statutory list. It seems anomalous to leave it off the Local List.

Costard Woodwords, 112 Main Road SS5 4RL
Of 18C origin, lending character to Main Road, it is regrettable to leave it off the Local List.

Thatched Cottage, 44 Spa Road SS5 4PH
Of 18C origin, its plain exterior and thatched roof remain. Change - only replacement windows, and once added china pieces, now removed - hence its name; 'China Cottage'. It lends character to central Hockley and should stay on Local List.

Hockley Cottage, 20 Southend Road SS5 4QQ
Of 18C origin, though several attachments have been added, all in character and materials with the original, the main building with red tiled roof, chimney stacks at each end is unaltered itself, apart from replacement windows. It adds to local character and should stay on Local List.

Boundary Stone - Agree
Bullwood Hall Hostel - Agree
Hockley Public Hall - Agree
The Old Forge - Agree
Brooks Cottage - Disagree. Should be included.
Homefield Farm - Agree
36 High Road - Agree
Trough & Fountain - Agree
Hockley House - Agree
New Hall House - Agree
Linden Lea - Agree
Beckney Wood House - Disagree. Should be included.
Barn, Beckney Farm - Agree
Hockley & Hawkwell Methodist Church - Agree
112 Main Road - Disagree. Should be included.
Formerly Hockley School - Agree
Hockley Cottage - Disagree. Although it has been altered it should still be included.
The Old Fire Station - Agree
The Spa Pub - Agree
Fingerpost - Agree
China Cottage - Disagree. Should be included.
Hockley Railway Station & Platform - Disagree. Should be included.
Footbridge at Hockley Station - Agree