Rochford Headlines

An Outsiders View of the Rochford Core Strategy Suspension

Planning guru, Andrew Lainton, takes an interest in the Rochord Core strategy. He writes in response to the Article that John Mason wrote in whiche he wondered if certain legal issues, namely a High Court case called CALA II could impact on the Council’s request for Suspension. Interestingly John... Read the story »

Rochford District Council – Suspension of Core Strategy

Councillor John Mason’ s Speech in Full Council on 21 July 2011 opposing Suspension Open Letter 1 following Full Council Decision to request Suspension Open Letter 2 following Full Council Decision to request Suspension The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, Councillor Keith Hudson, very... Read the story »

Rochford Core Strategy – Revisited 2011

The Rochford Independent stopped publishing Articles for a time because we wished to be less of a “publisher” of news and to concentrate on the primary objective of being District Councillors. Christine was elected in May to also represent the Hawkwell West Ward in the second of the two... Read the story »

New Government Bonus for Local Councils to build New Houses

The Government has today, 12 November, published the consultation paper on the New Homes Bonus (NHB) which is described in the paper as “an effective fiscal incentive to encourage local authorities to facilitate housing growth“. The Consultation closes on 24 December. Everyone in Rochford... Read the story »

Pickles – Court Says That Revocation of Housing Targets was Illegal

Guardian, 10/11/10 The Government’s ambitious plans to let English councils decide where new housing is to be built were thrown into confusion last night after Eric Pickles, the communities secretary, lost a court battle over his decision to scrap the the previous administration’s regional... Read the story »

Questions at the RDC Central Area Committee (9 Nov 2010)

Pat James, a resident of Hawkwell sent in a question about the latest consultation on the Core Strategy. Apart from asking about how residents would be informed about this important communication the question went on to ask; Please explain what changes have been made and how these will effect Hawkwell,... Read the story »

Hawkwell Headlines

HAWKWELL PARISH PLAN GROUP

The Rochford Independent is publishing this article on behalf of THE HAWKWELL PARISH PLAN GROUP We have made considerable progress and are pleased to announce funding by the “Big Lottery Fund” to carry out The Plan. This means we will be asking Everyone in Hawkwell what their needs and wishes are;... Read the story »

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 »

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 »