Rochford Headlines

Council in Battle with Government Inspector over Core Strategy

Everything that Michael Hoy and I (John Mason) asked Rochford District Council to do in our recent Motion on the housing needs of our district has been borne out by a Governmment Planning Inspector. On 27 July the Motion was defeated by the block vote of the Conservative Administration and consigned... Read the story »

Is the Pickles Abolition of Labour’s Housing Targets a Political Sham?

Promises made in the General Election and Local Elections could have been a cynical political sham. Once the promise to revoke the RSS Housing Targets was enacted by Eric Pickles on 6 July, District Councils had the chance to make sure that the views of the majority of residents put forward in public... Read the story »

Core Strategy – A Done Deal Despite Further Consultation?

Although the Dismissal of the David Wilson Homes Appeal for 330 dwellings was known over a week ago I have not felt able until now to comment over and above publicly stating in the Echo that I am delighted with the result. The residents groups of Hawkwell, the parish council and the many residents who... Read the story »

Housing Strategy Motion put to Full Council (RDC) on 27 July

Councillor Michael Hoy (Hullbridge) and Councillor John Mason (Hawkwell West) have given notice for a Motion to be put to Full Council on 27 July. “Pursuant to the Parliamentary Statement made by The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 6 July 2010, this Council agrees to carry... Read the story »

Could there be a Reduction in House Building Targets in Rochford District

Yes, there could be, but many residents who listened to and read the promises made about over development of the green belt at the General and Local Election in 2010 think that the new Government has stopped all building on green belt. No that is not the case, far, far from it. Well the RSS Housing... Read the story »

Rochford Core Strategy Housing Location Hearings

With all the recent talk and focus on the The Pickles Letter it has been easy to forget that the Public Examinaton of the Rochford Core Strategy is still continuing under the direction of Government Planning Inspector, Miss Laura Graham.  Indeed the Hearing on Housing that was attended by many residents... Read the story »

Hawkwell Headlines

Garden Grabbing,Housing Density,PPS3 and The David Wilson Homes Appeal Hawkwell

The Rochford Lib Dem web site “OnlineFOCUS” has published an interesting article here . Summary of the Article: Recent changes have been made by the Coalition Government to Planning Policy PPS3 where the previous requirement  that new housing was supposed to be built at a minimum density... Read the story »

Councils Can Surely Halt Housing Development Decisions – if they really try !!

Sarah Calkin’s article on “Housing targets are to be scrapped” published on the Echo Online on 5 June carried some fairly luke warm comments from Councillor Keith Hudson who is the Cabinet Member for Planning on Rochford District Council. I have heard Councillor Hudson say in public... Read the story »

Against Homes Development Proposals in Rochford District

Emma Thomas (emma.thomas [at] nqe [dot] com) wrote a great double page spread in the Echo entitled “United Against Homes Proposal” which reported on the representations that were made by many residents’ groups across Rochford District to a Government Planning Inspector. As an objector... Read the story »

Two Hawkwell Buses per Hour from May

Good News !! Local Campaigning works even though the time lag was one year !!  Nick Blackall,the Essex County Council Local Bus Service Manager has announced that from 2 May 2010, Hawkwell will see an increase to two buses an hour to Southend and Hockley one of which will extend to Rayleigh every hour... Read the story »

There Is No Hawkwell Split

The Editor of the Rochford OnlineFocus Website (Lib Dem) described the earlier publication of the HAG Statement as “Hawkwell Split?” (http://onlinefocus.org/?p=3821) There is no Hawkwell Split !! There are three residents groups in Hawkwell with a common theme which is, on undisputed common... Read the story »

Essex Headlines

Council Must Publish All Spending over £500

Rochford District Council in common with all councils, will have received a letter  from Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government, urging them to publish details of all spending over £500 in full and online. In the letter Mr Pickles makes clear that transparency... Read the story »

Hanningfield Resigns

From BBC Essex News : Charged expenses peer Lord Hanningfield quits council Lord Hanningfield denies the charges over his expense claims Suspended Tory peer Lord Hanningfield, who is facing criminal charges over expenses claims, has resigned as leader of Essex County Council. Lord... Read the story »

Essex County Council Job Cuts

Essex County Council has announced it is cutting up to 275 managerial posts. The cuts will be met through retirement, normal staff turn-over, voluntary redundancy and not filling existing vacancies, the council said. The council said reducing the layers of management would help bring “quicker and... Read the story »