Rochford District Council will not advertise Recycling Scheme on its Web Site

Despite what they say there is no scheme like this set up for Rochford District !!

Policy is “It is not our policy to link to websites expressing personal opinions that could be mistaken for the views of the Council”

Obviously the Council does not want to get firmly involved in localism, engaged with the community and recycling however it is provided - how could the views of the Council differ?

There is no furniture recycling scheme in Rochford District - period -it all goes to landfill. Why doesn’t the District Council want to save costs, if not protect the environment?

Social Events

We are in touch with a number of organisations across the Rochford District and will be advertising what is available.

Starting with Rochford District Residents, we run a series of Fun Quiz Niights over the year - if you are interested contact Christine on christine.mason@rochfordessex.net

From our personal friend of more than 30 years, Brian O’shea here are the trips that the Hockley Residents’ Association have asked us to advertise.

Friday 29 September, London Wetlands Centre & Guided Tour Of The Royal Albert Hall.

Saturday 18 November, The King and I at the Cliffs Pavillion by SODS.

Hockley Residents’ Association (HRA) - Council exposes tax payers to massive compensation

RDC have refused to consider HRA complaints, before the Development Control Committee meeting next Thursday, that the Pond Chase Mushroom Farm planning application has not been properly processed. The application is to convert part of a mushroom farm in the Green Belt into industrial units.

Once granted, planning permission cannot be rescinded. This means that if RDC or the Local Ombudsman subsequently uphold the complaints, RDC could face massive compensation bills from home owners whose properties have lost value as a result of the change of use.

Evening Echo - Who’s behind phone box graffiti?

Who’s behind phone box graffiti?
By Michael Clarke

Graffiti vandals have been paying tribute to late Aussie adventurer Steve Irwin by spraying his image on walls and bus stops.

The images, created by spraying over a stencil, have appeared since the naturalist died after being slashed by the barb of a stingray’s tail.

A service in memory of Irwin took place in Australia yesterday.

His cheeky face has appeared at a bus stop in White Hart Lane, Hawkwell, amongst a handful of other locations.

Community police officer Steve Joynes said: “His face has appeared with several slogans such as Steve Irwin Lives’ and the date he died.

Planning Applications at 1 Southend Road Hockley

I am being challenged on the way I voted at Rochford District Council on two planning applications concerning the same property in HOCKLEY.

The locally waged campaign against the development included a spate of fly posting which was reported to the police for investigation. I was shocked at the content of e-mails and the fly posters. This was the worst campaign on a planning application I have ever encountered in 26 years of being involved in community issues.

FOR THE RECORD

I only voted on two applications because I was away for the application which was considered on 26 April 2005.

Allotments in Hawkwell

The Clerk to the Parish Council has been receiving a number of requests for allotments.

If there are any other interested residents please contact John Mason.

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Financial Concerns over Parish Council Decision

Some years ago the council tax raised by Hawkwell Parish Council was much lower than it is now.  If memory serves me correctly it was about £50,000 per annum and when the Spencers and Magnolia Open Spaces were taken over the  costs increased to the high 80’s and now over 100,000.

So when the Council decided to take over the Glencroft Open Space, I was concerned that the costs were fully understood before the land was taken over rather than discovered as the project proceeded.

When Hawkwell Parish Councl took the decision to take over the Glencroft Open Space on 12 June 2006  this was made without any presentation of the way it was to be managed and by implication the costs that will be incurred on a permanent basis together with those additional capital costs of plant and equipment that will be required,

As the Open Space is being taken over from Rochford District Council it would have been appropriate to find out exactly what current costs are being incurred by RDC.  This has not be done.

I supported, with another 6 Councillors, a Motion on Notice to rescind the Council decision made on 12th June regarding the Glencroft Open Space.

Unfortunately the vote to protect your financial insterests was narrowly lost 8/6 and the project will proceed on a hand to mouth basis with the Parks Committee asking for money as required.  What this will do to the figure raised as council tax I do not know.

This is the letter I sent to all councillors before the meeting in an attempt to get them to not commit unless the costs were known. Read more

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Search Our Rochford District Database

We have composed a collection of reference documents relating to Rochford District online and have pooled these into a database that can be searched.

Click here - http://cardshark.pcs-net.com/index.htm

You can also search the articles on this site by making another search at the very bottom on the left hand side of the home page.

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Echo Article - Expansion of Southend - Threat of Rochford/Southend By Pass looms

2,000 new homes for New Ranges
Exclusive By Steven Blaakman

Up to 2,000 new homes could be built at the New Ranges weapons testing base in Shoebury.

Consultants are proposing a vibrant new town with a tree-lined main avenue, a central park and the possibility of a landmark tower block.

Investment from big companies and the University of Essex could also create more than 3,000 new jobs, consultants Llewelyn Davies Yeang believe.

A light rail system transporting residents to nearby shops and facilities could be built along the main avenue.

The project would also include a new road to the north of the site, the catalyst for the long-awaited Southend outer relief road. Read more

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Bullwood Hall - now a male prison

Call for boost to prison security
A Tory MP whose constituency includes Bullwood Hall Prison has called for extra security following the switch from female inmates to male.

Rayleigh MP Mark Francois called for improvements at the Hockley prison in response to anxious calls from local residents. Read more

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