If you have any items of interest that you think would be suitable to be included in next newsletter please let us know via the website Contact Us , phone 01702 207297 or drop in to 2 Englefield Close. Only electronic documents please and if we believe they are appropriate we will include them.
For an original copy of our last newsletter, if you have not received one from our delivery team, please contact us as above. To print these pages it is best use landscape.
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OUR AUTUMN 2009 COMMUNITY VOICE CONTENT
(or click on pdf version: Hawkwell Residents Association Autumn 2009 Community Voice Newsletter )
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Hawkwell Residents Association Established 1994, Covering - Hawkwell, Ashingdon and Rochford
RDC Core Strategy for additional homes
As you may already know, David Wilson Homes part of Barratt Developments want to apply to build 370 homes in Rectory Road on the Christmas Tree Farm area. This stretches from Clements Hall Way across to Thorpe Road and from Rectory Road to Spencers Park incorporating 27.5 acres of green belt land. Rochford District Council originally proposed 350 new homes for Hawkwell by 2021 and they reduced this to 175 after pressure from the residents of Hawkwell. We would like to see no new homes built on green belt land in our area and we have stated our objections in our response to the RDC Core Strategy.
We attended the presentation at Clements Hall and were surprised at the lack of information given. As far as we can tell, the only proposed road improvements are an additional lane added to Rectory Road at the mini-roundabout. Traffic currently tails back at this roundabout at peak times in Rectory Road and Hall Road and this will only get worse if development at the airport goes ahead. As we all know, the access to this area is poorly served by a traffic light controlled single lane at the railway bridge which would be turned into a continuous traffic jam if these homes and the homes proposed for the Brays Lane area are built.
Even if 175 of the proposed 370 homes are approved for the Rectory Road area, we believe a development of this proportion would require a number of infrastructure improvements that we have outlined on our website including:
* Computer controlled traffic lights at the Rectory Road / Hall Road junction.
* Replacement of Rectory Road Railway Bridge for two-way traffic.
* Rectory Road adjacent to the Christmas Tree Farm to be widened and wider pavements added.
* An assurance that the evening number 8 bus will be reinstated and a half hour daytime service provided.
We would suggest everyone in your household writes to Rochford District Council and David Wilson Homes (addresses below) with any concerns you may have. You may also get in touch with the Hawkwell Resident Association. Please write to: Rochford District Council, Council Offices, South Street, Rochford, Essex SS4 1BW and David Wilson Homes, Freepost: RRRL-GLUR-KXXH, HardHat Communications, The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London WCIE 7BT. Please also attend the next RDC Central Area Committee meeting at 19.30 on the 15th October in Hawkwell Village Hall.
NHS PCT news update
* After pressure from the Hawkwell and Hockley Residents Associations on the NHS PCT we now have an additional NHS dentist working at the White Hart Lane practice but we are afraid it’s a case of use it or lose it.
* We are very pleased that the new contract has now been placed for the Rochford & Hawkwell Surgeries (Dr Sen’s).
* We have now been informed that it is unlikely that a replacement for the health centre in Hockley will be built due to financial cut backs but extensions and improvements to the current building may be considered.
Bus service 7 & 8
After much effort we have been unable to convince Arriva, Essex County Council and Rochford District Council to return the number 8 evening bus through Hawkwell. A six month trial of running an additional number 7 bus to Hockley has been added but this does not benefit anyone that lives in Hawkwell.
New 18 bus to Tesco’s
Did you know there is now an additional bus number 18 that runs only on Fridays to Tesco’s? It services the Woodcutters in Leigh, Hockley, Ashingdon, Hawkwell and Tesco’s on the A127. The bus makes five circuits on a loop from 10.17 to 14.38. We have no information on how popular it is but we are sure it’s another case of use it or lose it.
Bus complaints form
Essex County Council now has an online Bus Passenger Complaints Form. The form can be accessed from the Hawkwell Residents Association and Hawkwell Parish Council websites.
Neighbourhood Action Panel
We now attend both the Hockley and Hawkwell Police Neighbourhood Action Panels (NAP) run by PC Steve Joynes. If you have any issues you would like us to bring up at these meetings please contact us. Generally compared with areas such as Southend we are a low crime area but we do get a few burglaries and car thefts. Some of the recent police issues are: * Speeding – public operated speed guns are now available, if you would like to volunteer phone 0300 3334444 ex 494104.
* Neighbourhood Watch recruitment drive – If you are interested in joining or starting one phone 0300 3334444 extension 490576 – Be on your guard as there has been a thief posing as neighbourhood watch rep.
* The sale of alcohol to the under eighteens – Please do not buy any alcohol or cigarettes for minors. * Crime Stoppers – Crimestoppers is an independent charity working to fight crime phone 0800 555111.
Hockley Area Action Plan (HAAP) Survey
Hockley Residents Association, Hockley Under Threat and Hockley Parish Plan Group, together will be carrying out a survey on what changes residents would like for the centre of Hockley. As Hockley is for many residents in Hawkwell their nearest shopping centre, we are sure they would like to contribute their preferences for the area. Please look out for the survey form coming soon to shops, the library and our website.
Wyvern Community Transport
Are you unable to access conventional transport due to either having restricted mobility, temporarily unable to access public transport, living in an area not served by public transport or where your transport needs are not met by existing timetables. If you are a permanent resident of our area then Wyvern Community Transport for Rochford District can help you. The scheme utilises drivers and the vehicles provided to meet the special transport needs of residents of Rochford District. To book the service phone 01702 544551 between 9.15am & 2.30pm (Mon - Thur) 9.15am & 12.00 (Fri). Email: manager@wyvernct.co.uk A yearly membership fee of £5 is payable and £2.50 per journey up to 4 miles. For journeys over 4 miles, 50p per mile is charged. See: http://www.rravs.org.uk/transport.html .
Local events for our newsletter or website
If you have any events or items of interest that you think would be suitable to be included on our website please let us know via the website Contact Us or drop it into 2 Englefield Close. Only electronic documents and digital photos please and if we believe they are appropriate we will include them.
Suscriptions Due
If you have not already paid your subscriptions for this year, please send it to: Hawkwell Residents Association at 2 Englefield Close, Hawkwell, SS5 4LE or 25B Belchamps Way, Hawkwell, SS5 4NT. We have kept our subscription at 50p since we started in 1994. Please remember that even though our subs are low, without these funds we cannot help you the residents of Hawkwell.
Coach trips with pickup points in Hawkwell
Hockley Residents Association still has coach trips for 2009 with pickup points in Hawkwell. For details please visit Local News on our website at hawkwell.org or contact Brian O’shea. Phone: 01702 204334.
Thank you to our newsletter volunteers
We would like to thank our folders, distributors and deliverers that make our newsletter possible and affordable. We are always looking for volunteers to deliver to every home in our area. In order for this service to continue we need more help. If you can spare an hour every 6 months we would be very grateful.
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If you have not already paid your subscriptions for this year, please send it to: Hawkwell Residents Association at 2 Englefield Close, Hawkwell, SS5 4LE or 25B Belchamps Way, Hawkwell, SS5 4NT.
No cash by post please – however 1st and 2nd class stamps, postal orders or cheques payable to Hawkwell Residents Association are fine.
I enclose £……………. being my / our subscription for this year (50 pence per person per calendar year) together with any additional voluntary donation. In order to reduce costs a receipt will not be issued unless a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed. Hawkwell Residents Association has donation and subscription information held on a computer system. If you would rather your information be held as a paper record please contact the Association at the above address.
Would you deliver the Hawkwell Residents Association Newsletter in your road or another road? YES / NO
Is there an issue in Hawkwell that you would like us to address or help you with?
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I am Interested in joining the committee YES / NO
Name…………………...................……..................………..……................................Telephone……...................................................
Address………………………………..................................................................................................................................……………
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OUR SPRING 2009 COMMUNITY VOICE CONTENT
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Hawkwell Residents Association Established 1994, Covering - Hawkwell, Ashingdon and Rochford
New bus timetables for the 7 and 8
Hawkwell Residents Association attended a meeting held by RDC with Hockley Residents Association, Hockley Parish Plan Group, Arriva and ECC to discuss the new 7 and 8 bus timetables. The main difference between the old to the new timetables is that out of peak periods the 7 has been cut from two to one bus per hour and the 8 at one bus per hour now runs on to Rayleigh. This means that from Hockley to Rayleigh there are still two buses per hour. From the Hawkwell point of view to be able to catch a number 8 that now runs all the way to Rayleigh is an improvement. From the north Hockley point of view, the service which runs past Greensward Academy has been cut from two to one per hour.
Hockley Residents Association and Hockley Parish Plan Group have carried out spot check surveys on passenger numbers for the 7 route and these figures are considerably higher than Arriva’s. This is especially noticeable as the Greensward Academy is on this route, which should have increased the Arriva’s passenger count.
One thing that has come to light from the new timetable is that although since 2002 the 8 stopped completely in the evenings at around 18.30, the 7 runs two per hour in the evenings to make up the two per hour through from Hockley to Rayleigh. To the HRA this does not make any sense as we believe there is no increase of passengers on the 7 buses in the evenings. Conversely there is no way for residents to get to Clements Hall in the evening from Rayleigh, Hockley or Rochford. Southend hospital is now having more evening appointments, which means that Hawkwell residents have no public transport to get them there and back.Although we were unable to get an improvement to the 7 we made a strong case for maintaining the daytime schedule of one 7 and one 8 through to Rayleigh in the evening. Unfortunately Arriva and ECC who subsidise the evening service do not want to change this and RDC is not convinced, even though they are responsible for Clements Hall. ECC did state they will carry out a survey on the 7 evening service.
Following a request for comments in an article in their newsletter the Hockley Parish Plan Group have so far received 15 letters of complaint about the service that they have passed onto Arriva and ECC. Please write to us if you have any problems with the 7 & 8 service and we will also pass them on to Arriva and ECC.
Hockley Area Action Plan (HAAP)
RDC have now produced the Hockley Area Action Plan (HAAP) and ask for a public response. Our initial thoughts are that we would like to retain the village feel but would also like to see some gradual improvements to the village centre. Hockley Residents Association has held a meeting to get residents thoughts on the plan. RDC have so far discussed the plan at a Central Area Committee meeting in Hullbridge but as far as we know there are no plans at this stage to discuss this in Hockley or Hawkwell.
RDC Core Strategy
We are still waiting to be told where Rochford District Council are planning to build the additional homes in Hawkwell, which we believe may be announced in June 2009. Our main areas of concern are the number of homes allocated to Hawkwell, loss of green belt and the additional traffic through our area.
Hawkwell Parade
We received complaints about the deteriorating state of the car park and exterior of Hawkwell Parade Shops. We have written to the site owners Tan Properties listing the main issues.
Bosworth Close
The footpath to Main Road was resurfaced last year but Hawkwell Residents Association and the local police considered it could be a danger where it joined the busy road. We have been pushing to have a barrier installed and at last Essex County Council Highways have completed the fencing (not our design).
Local artist
Gary Morley has an exhibition of his work at Hockley Library until the end of April.
Rochford & Southend airport plan
Rochford and Southend councils have now published their Southend Airport Joint Area Action Plan (JAAP) Preferred options document. It is basically the maximum option from their consultation document that they published in 2008.
We are concerned about the considerable expansion of the industrial estate and the loss of greenbelt. We would like to see a written restriction on night flights. We believe road and junction improvements should be made to the B1013 through Hawkwell and Hockley as much of the traffic coming from the north will use this road as a cut through. We would like to see written restrictions on noise and air pollution as we are told that 40% of flights may take off in the direction of the Thames but will turn back to fly north over Hawkwell and Hockley.
Hawkwell Residents Association attended a meeting at the airport with Hockley Residents Association, Hockley Parish Plan Group and Alastair Welch the airports Managing Director who now works for Stobart Group. He confirmed that a new railway station, control tower, hotel and eventually new terminal will now go ahead and will probably be built by Stobart themselves. They would also like to extend the runway but obviously the final control lies with Rochford and Southend councils. Please write to RDC with your views.
NHS PCT meetings
Hawkwell Residents Association along with Hockley Residents Association attends regular meetings with the NHS PCT. At the last meeting they presented and gave us copies of their five year strategy. They have made improvements to the amount of NHS dentist services and care for our area. We have still much less NHS dentists per head of population than Southend but surprisingly we have more than Eastwood. The PCT stated that we will get further improvements in our area in the future. They have informed us that the contract for Hawkwell and Rochford GP Surgeries should be in place by the end of summer 2009. There could be a replacement health centre built in Hockley. This centre would be for services they want to take out of Southend Hospital by transferring funds. Our next meeting with the PCT will be in June.
Glencroft Wood
We have assisted residents living close to Glencroft Wood in White Hart Lane that were concerned about a plan from the developer showing part of the wood cleared for a footpath. We acquired from RDC a copy of the tree preservation order for the wood and although some management of the wood will be carried out, RDC have stated they have no plans to make a clearance for a footpath.
Coach trips with pickup points in Hawkwell
Hockley Residents Association has published a new programme of coach trips for 2009 with pickup points in Hawkwell. For details please visit Local News on our website at hawkwell.org or contact Brian O’shea. Phone: 01702 204334.
New crossing required
We had the requests for a new crossing for Main Road near the junction of Thorpe Road. We asked for it to be added to the RDC’s Locally Determined Programme list. We have now heard that this and the relocation of the crossing for King Edmund School students to get to Golden Cross shops, is being considered by ECC.
Police Neighbourhood Action Panel meetings
NAPs are trying to increase participation in the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Contact Richard Bills 01268 770519, 10:00-12:00 weekdays.
Hawkwell Residents Association AGM
The HRA AGM will be held at 7.30pm in the Hawkwell Village Hall Annex on 19/08/09.
Suscriptions Due
Subscriptions are now due for 2009. Please send to the addresses below. We have kept our subscription at 50p since we started in 1994. Please remember that even though our subs are low, without these funds we cannot help you the residents of Hawkwell.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you have not already paid your subscriptions for this year, please send it to: Hawkwell Residents Association at 2 Englefield Close, Hawkwell, SS5 4LE or 25B Belchamps Way, Hawkwell, SS5 4NT.
No cash by post please – however 1st and 2nd class stamps, postal orders or cheques payable to Hawkwell Residents Association are fine.
I enclose £……………. being my / our subscription for this year (50 pence per person per calendar year) together with any additional voluntary donation. In order to reduce costs a receipt will not be issued unless a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed. Hawkwell Residents Association has donation and subscription information held on a computer system. If you would rather your information be held as a paper record please contact the Association at the above address.
Would you deliver the Hawkwell Residents Association Newsletter in your road or another road? YES / NO
Is there an issue in Hawkwell that you would like us to address or help you with?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................
I am interested in joining the committee YES / NO
Name…………………...................……..................………..……................................Telephone……...................................................
Address………………………………..................................................................................................................................……………
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