Core Strategy Submission Document

The Hawkwell Residents Association has discussed the RDC Core Strategy Submission document and wishes to object on the grounds of unsoundness or legally non compliant due to the following points:

- Producing a heavy weight document that prevented printing and general distribution was an unfair method of consultation.
- This document does not fully take into consideration the impact of the JAAP report and the reports for the proposed redevelopment of Hockley, Rochford and Rayleigh.
- The stated government policy of using 60% brown field sites first before green field seems to have been reversed, with many potential sites for building being of a green field nature.
- If the 175 homes were to be located in one place it will change the nature of the village. We believe it would be better to spread them throughout the Hawkwell area. Consideration should be given to the proximity of shops and schools as due to the lack of public transport additional car usage would result.
- That comprehensive consultation has not taken place with ECC, other district councils, local parish/town councils, residents associations and other interested parties in and around our district.
- The additional homes will put an enormous strain on the infrastructure of our area, particularly the road system, which has not been addressed in the document.
- Loss of Green Belt in our area, which would change our village into a town.
- Additional vehicles on the roads from the building of the new homes, the additional residents, their delivery services and visitors and the proposed airport expansion traffic.
- Additional demand on our doctors and dentists.
- Additional demand on schools and social services.
- The number 7 and 8 bus has now been reduced to mainly one bus an hour and there is now no evening number 8 service.
- Additional demand on gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface/storm water drainage.
- Moving Eldon Way and the Foundry Estate to a green belt site at the airport area will increase mileage for employees and the lack of public transport will limit employment to car users. We believe cycling would be a poor and unrealistic substitute.
- ECC have stated that the B1013 is now running at 72% capacity. The Core Strategy proposal would bring the traffic to an unbearable level. No details and estimated costs are given of the many road improvement we believe would be necessary as listed below.
- This area is enclosed by the River Crouch, the sea and the Thames and is only properly accessed from the west. For this reason we believe the sensible place to locate additional homes would be in the western part of Rochford district.
- We believe that no major infrastructure improvements have been carried out in the Hawkwell area for more than 30 years. We also believe that the following infrastructure improvements in the Hawkwell/Hockley area, that are not included in the Core Strategy document, should be addressed before any additional homes are built:

1. Replacement of Rectory Road Railway Bridge for two-way traffic.
2. Computer controlled traffic lights at the Rectory Road/Hal Road junction.
3. Upgrade Rectory Road and widen road and footpath at the Christmas Tree Farm area.
4. Upgrade the B1013 Hall Road and provide missing and upgrade existing pavements.
5. Proper main road street lighting for the B1013 Hall Road and B1013 Rayleigh Road.
6. A cycle path route from Rochford through Hockley to Rayleigh.
7. A new pelican crossing in B1013 Main Road near Tudor Way.
8. Return to two buses an hour in both directions for the 7 and 8 services between Southend and Rayleigh and the return of the 8 evening bus service.
9. Improvements to all services including gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface/storm water drainage.
10. Increase capacity at all the local schools in the area.
11. Increase capacity at all the local doctors and dentists and hospital services in the area.
12. Increase ambulance, fire and police emergency services.
13. Provide and run a youth club in the Hawkwell area.
14. To provide and run allotments in the Hawkwell area.
15. To extend the existing Cherry Orchard Park to Mount Bovers Lane and Hockley Woods.
16. Replace the existing Hockley Spa roundabout with a wider traffic light junction complete with pedestrian cross lights.
17. Install a double mini roundabout at Station Road and Station Approach junction with Spa Road for Hockley Station.
18. Install a mini roundabout on the B1013 at Folly Lane.
19. Make up/upgrade Plumberow Avenue through to Lower Road in Hockley complete with pavements, main road street lighting and a mini roundabout at the Lower Road junction.
20. Upgrade Watery Lane/Beeches Road in Hullbridge from Lower Road complete with pavements, main road street lighting and a mini roundabout at the Lower Road junction.