Issues and Options Document

Based on our Housing Needs Survey, Ashingdon Parish Council feel the Rochford District Council should encourage developers to build 1 and 2 bed properties to assist first time buyers and older residents wishing to downsize.
On larger developments a percentage of property should be set aside to be purchased by local residents only, subject to a specified criteria (as used in Cornwall), at a reduced purchase price. A covenant will keep the property for locals at all resales.

Following a wide ranging discussion Ashingdon Parish Council were of the view that the document was not so much a plan as aspirational wish list which did not address the fundamental issues relating to living in Ashingdon.

The Ashingdon Road is already the most crowded road that is not a b road in Essex. There is little in this document to address this in a positive way and an awful lot that is negative. The Parish Council could not see how the associated vehicles could be accommodated without further gridlock. Further the lack of infrastructures in the plan means that schools, healthcare and local amenities will suffer greatly. The Parish Council wanted to see a better commitment to raising the quality of life to the inhabitants not a way of raising the number of inhabitants and thereby decreasing the quality of life.

Larger developments should be sited near to major travel routes eg A130, A127, A1245 to alleviate traffic flow through Rochford, Ashingdon, Hawkwell & Hockley.