Conservative Party Green Paper on Planning

In an effort to be first with an informed review of the latest NEWS in planning , I am publishing my immediate reaction to the new Conservative, shadow policy, on Planning.  It was published just this afternoon, 22/2. It was an interesting read of just 20 or so pages.  (That’s quite good in itself actually.) 

I think that many residents in Rayleigh, Hawkwell, Hullbridge, Rochford and Stambridge were hoping that the Conservative Party nationally would be the “white knight” which would promise to save their green belt if only they returned a Conservative Government.  May be…. may be not…. do read on.

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 as now.

In addition there is good news for Hockley as well because a temporary improvement will now be made permanent.

The section of the 7 route between Ashingdon and Hockley along Greensward Lane will increase to four buses an hour to Southend and Hockley and again one of which one will extend to Rayleigh every hour as now.

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 ground, simply to oppose development.  They are all different with their own identities and committees.

The Hawkwell Residents Association (Hawkwell RA) was formed in 1994 and is headed by two Hawkwell Parish Councillors, Angela Heath and Alan James.(http://www.hawkwell.net)

The Hawkwell Action Group (HAG) was formed at a public meeting in June 2008 and is run by Jamie Popplewell as Chair, with Committee Members, Carol Dutton and Pat James (http://www.hawkwellactiongroup.org.uk)

Hawkwell’s only Dental Practice

Hawkwell/Hockley Dental Practice Loses half of NHS Funding To A Practice That Hasn’t Even Been Built

If you live in Hawkwell or Hockley please write to Andrew Pike, CEO of the South Essex NHS at andrew.pike [at] see-pct.nhs [dot] uk and object to the cut in funding.

White Hart Dental Care in Hockley, Essex is to lose part of its NHS funding in March 2010. Dr Luke Schnel was given an additional temporary NHS contract in June 2008, which allowed him to employ an additional 2 NHS dentists (Dr Beverley Scott and Dr Abdul Salim-Said) at his modern practice. They have since treated over 2,000 new NHS patients, significantly improving access to NHS dentistry in the area. .

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 Hanningfield, who has also stepped down from the Tory frontbench in the House of Lords, will be charged under the Theft Act, it has been announced. He has denied the charges and said he would “vigorously” defend himself. He said to allow him to defend the charges he had resigned as leader of Essex County Council.

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 sharper decision-making and… lead to enhanced local services”.

It said frontline services would not be affected and it was working with public sector unions.

The proposed cuts represent 2.5% of the organisation’s core workforce of 10,900 employees or 16.5% of the council’s 1,648 line managers.

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