Please click on other local news, events, newsletters and interesting websites below:
Football - Who will win? One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest RRAVS Outreach Clinics Local Farmers Markets
Bike Tagging Event Who Can You Trust? RDC 2010 Holiday Activities Spotify Free Music RDC Events & Attractions
RDC Youth and Family Activity Brochure RDC Free Activity Days For Over Fifties Free Youth Clubs on Fridays
Help The Aged - HandyVan Service - Secure your home 01702 464199 Cars Parking Illegally on Pavements – RNIB
Rochford Neighbourhood Watch – Rochford Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter Hawkwell Christmas Lighting Ceremony
Springboard's Handypersons Service Rayleigh, Rochford and District Association for Voluntary Service – Newsletter
The Producers - Cliffs Pavilion – SODS 12th to 15th May 2010 Anything Goes - Palace Theatre – LODS 5th to 8th May 2010
RDC Anti Social Behaviour & Other Reporting Forms Hawkwell Parish Council Xmas Tree Farm Residents Concerns
Hawkwell RA Autumn 2009 Newsletter Hawkwell Village Hall Hawkwell Parish Council – Hawkwell PC Newsletter
Hockley Residents Association – HoRA Newsletter Hockley Parish Plan Group – HPPG Newsletter Hockley Under Threat
Hockley Parish Council – HoPC Newsletter Hawkwell Action Group – HAG's Response To DWH Rectory Road Proposal
Stop Airport Extension Now Fire Safety In The Home Crimestoppers - A Charity Organisations DisableGo Rochford
Recycling At Home Recycling Banks Recycling Centres ECC Bus Passenger Complaints Form - Click On Left Hand Side
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PETITION TO CONTINUE RECEIVING NHS DENTAL TREATMENT AT WHITE HART LANE DENTAL PRACTICE
If you receive NHS dental treatment at White Hart Lane Dental Practice in Hockley, please sign their petition at the practice:
I have recently become aware that the Primary Care Trust has withdrawn some NHS funding at White Hart Lane Dental Practice meaning they have to stop treating some patients. However, I would like to continue to receive my NHS Dental Treatment at White Hart Lane Dental Practice. I am happy with the quality of service that I receive at this practice and feel comfortable with the dentist that I see. I do not want to change dentists. Please reconsider your decision and continue to provide funding to the White Hart Lane Dental Practice.
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Yellow Advertiser 4th March 2010 – Dental care row
Dentists working in Hockley have been cut short leaving thousands without nearby care. NHS South East Essex scrapped contracts with White Hart Dental Centre, in White Hart Lane, and has not arranged temporary cover for patients. The practice will lose part of its funding in March, just two years after owner, Dr Luke Schnel, was given an agreement to employ two extra NHS dentists to cater for 2,000 new residents. The permanent contract has been awarded to a practice, which has not yet been built in the village, but the trust says it will be ready by the summer. The Trust was in talks with the White Hart Lane practice to provide extra cover in the interim, but the practice has refused. A spokesman for the surgery said: “We do not feel it is in the patients’ best interest to continue providing temporary services to them. We are happy to provide NHS services to patients if the trust can give us a permanent contract. Patients are not interested in temporary cover, they want to join a dentist and stay long term not go elsewhere in six months. Hockley Residents Association has been working with the trust and now fear further dentistry delays when patients change details to the new site. Association chairman, Brian Guyett, said: Efforts to find an interim solution, avoiding the need for patients to travel to Rayleigh to see an NHS dentist, have failed meaning that thousands, including children, will have to travel for an indefinite period of at least four months. The PCT has agreed to restore the cuts to dental service capacity in the Hockley area, which it had made, but was unable to find a solution which enabled services to continue to be provided in Hockley in the interim. No details of the temporary cover in Rayleigh are available and we will continue to pressure them to minimise the impact and also to try and facilitate an early start for the new dentist. However, Ian Stidston, interim director of primary and community care at NHS South East Essex, stressed the Trust remain committed to commissioning NHS dental activity for the residents of Hockley. He said: With regret, our preferred dental provider in Hockley has confirmed that they will not provide ongoing temporary, additional NHS dental services to local residents while the new permanent NHS dental services in Hockley are being set up. We would like to thank White Hart Lane for their assistance in providing temporary cover until March. Unfortunately, there is a gap between the end of the temporary arrangements with the White Hart Lane Dental Practice and the new NHS dental provider becoming operational. The PCT has endeavoured to make interim arrangements in Hockley but this has not proved possible.
 Dr Luke Schnel with Ros Zasserman, Christina Szalay, Brian Guyett and Anastasia Snell.
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Heather Glynn Talk
Hockley Residents Association have invited Heather Glynn to give a talk at their next monthly meeting. The talk will be on Southend Pier from 1945 to 1955, it should last about 30 minutes and there will be no charge to attend. The meeting will be at 7.30pm on the 9th March 2010 in Kilnfield House next to Hockley Station roundabout.
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Echo Report 27th February 2010 – Hockley residents left without NHS dental treatment
Thousands of people in Hockley will have to travel out of the town for dental care from next week. HHS South East Essex has not arranged temporary cover for patients after White Hart Dental Care in White Hart Lane, Hockley, will lose part of its NHS funding in March. In June 2008, owner Dr Luke Schnel was given a temporary NHS contract, which allowed him to employ two extra NHS dentists, Dr Beverley Scott and Dr Abdul Salim-Said – treating 2,000 new patients. The permanent contract from the NHS South East Essex has been awarded to a practice which has not yet been built in the village, but the trust says it will be ready by the summer. The trust was in talks with the White Hart Lane practice to provide extra cover in the interim, but the practice has refused. In a statement the dental surgery said: “We do not feel it is in the patients’ best interest to continue providing temporary services to them. We are happy to provide NHS services to patients if the trust can give us a permanent contract. “Patients are not interested in temporary cover, they want to join a dentist and stay long term not go elsewhere in six months.” Hockley Residents’ Associa- tion has been working with the trust and say the situation has been mis-managed. Association chairman, Brian Guyett, said: “We are very disappointed. Delays in responding to the association’s proposals have resulted in inconvenience to patients, who will have to travel to Rayleigh, especially when there is only an hourly bus service. “We are concerned the benefits of forcing patients to change dentists have still not been disclosed and are worried any further delays in implementing the new service will extend the disruption.” Rochford independent councillor John Mason has written to the health trust’s chief executive, Andrew Pike, to say he wants this situation reviewed by the NHS regulator.
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White Hart Lane Dentist
The PCT has blamed the White Hart Lane dentist for not providing continuing dental care but we are informed this is not true. Together with Hockley Residents Association we are trying to get this interim service continued at White Hart Lane until the contract starts at the earlyest in July 2010.
Statement from: Ian Stidston, Interim Director of Primary and Community Care
“With regret, our preferred dental provider in Hockley has confirmed that they will not provide ongoing temporary, additional NHS dental services to local residents while the new permanent NHS dental services in Hockley are being set up. We remain committed to commissioning NHS dental activity for the residents of Hockley & Hawkwell and the PCT is currently reviewing all temporary options. We remain mindful of the need for those services to be delivered as near to Hockley as possible. Should anyone living in south east Essex have concerns about accessing a NHS dentist, I would encourage them to contact the dental helpline on 01702 226668 (Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm).”
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Echo Report 18th February 2010 – 2,000 patients to lose dentist in budget cuts
Patients at a dental practice will have to move after its NHS funding was cut. White Hart Dental Care in White Hart Lane, Hockley, will lose part of its NHS funding from March 2010. In June 2008, owner Dr Luke Schnel was given a temporary NHS contract, which allowed him to employ two extra NHS dentists, Dr Beverley Scott and Dr Abdul Salim-Said. They have treated over 2,000 new NHS patients, but the permanent contract from the NHS South East Essex has been awarded to a practice which has not yet been built in the village. This means that although Dr Schnel will still be able to see his original patients under the NHS, the two new dentists will not. Vic Leach, chairman of Hawkwell Parish Council, said: “It is desperately disappointing. “It is not easy to get a dentist, and I think this move will make it considerably more difficult for local people to access national health dental provision. “I would be very concerned there is a fundamental problem with losing a dentist. Meanwhile, residents are going to be without any dental health provision.” Dr Schnel said the announcement would cause problems. He said: “We have done our best for these 2,000 new NHS patients and they have been very happy with the care and service they received at White Hart Dental Care. “Most patients find it difficult to attend a dentist, but once they have established a trusting relationship, they gain confidence and are usually much happier to attend. As a result, the majority would prefer not to have to change dentist at all.” All patients who have been at the practice for longer than 20 months, or who have seen Dr Schnel or Dr Anklert will still be able to have NHS treatment at White Hart as there is still funding for them. All other new patients will be offered a private dental plan to save them having to switch. Ian Stidston, interim director of primary and community care for the primary care trust, explained the decision. He said: “Last year, there was local concern about the provision of dentistry in Hockley. As a consequence, we began a procurement process to identify a long-term solution that would meet the needs of the local community. During this process, we approached existing local dentists who had extra capacity to ensure residents in Hockley had additional dentistry provision until the procurement process was complete. “We have now come to the end of the procurement process, and once final contracts are signed we will announce details of the new dental provider in Hockley.” Anyone living in south east Essex who has concerns about accessing a NHS dentist can contact the dental helpline on 01702 226668.
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The Enquirer Report 16th February 2010 – Suprise as funding cut for Hockley dentists
The practice manager of dentists in Hockley has reacted with surprise that it is to lose its funding next month. Anastasia Schnel believes that no more could have been done for patients at White Hart Dental Care in White Hart Lane. After opening in 2005 the centre received government funding in June 2008 that allowed two NHS dentists, Dr Beverley Scott and Dr Abdul Salim-Said to be employed, and the funding kept being extended for six months at a time but will be cut next month. Anastasia said: “This was unexpected news for us for us at White Hart Dental Care. We have done our best for these 2,000 new NHS patients. “I think we offer good value for money, our dentists are good quality and our patients are generally happy and we don’t get negative feedback. “We don’t discriminate against patients and offer all treatment to all patients. We have put in a lot of work together with Hockley Residents’ Association to get more funding.” The organisation will offer a package that includes two check ups and two cleanings, worldwide accident and emergency insurance and x-rays for adults for £9.75 a month. Interim Director of Primary & Community Care for South East Essex PCT Ian Stidston, said: “Last year there was local concern about the provision of dentistry in Hockley as a consequence and in line with the Department of Health guidelines we began a procurement process to identify a long-term solution that would meet the needs of the local community. “As part of the procurement process each bidder was evaluated according to their business viability, technical capability, service quality and ability to offer overall best value.” “We have now come to the end of the procurement process and once final contracts are signed we will announce the details of the new dental provider in Hockley.” If anyone living in South East Essex has concerns about accessing a NHS dentist they can call the dental helpline on 01702 226668 from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm.
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Old Cars to Cut Up
If any one has an old car that they would like to dispose of without cost, Hawkwell Fire Station needs it to practice cutting techniques on. Please note that it is essential you have the logbook of any vehicle being donated. To donate your vehicles please contact Dan Clary at Hawkwell Fire Station in Main Road.
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Echo Report 15th February 2010 – Hockley school set for Essex County Council cash boost
A Hockley school could receive millions of pounds of Government money to rebuild. Greensward Academy could get as much as £23million from the Partnership for Schools, although exact figures have not yet been decided. There are ten schools across Essex in line to receive a share of a £130million pot. The amount of funding each school will receive will be calculated by using, among other factors, pupil numbers. Essex County Council’s budget, passed on Tuesday, divided up the pot, with Greensward down for £23.6million. But County Hall spokesman Michael Page said the allocation was not final and would be decided later this year, after each school had submitted a business plan to say how it would spend the money. Greensward Academy is one of four schools in Essex run by the Academies Enterprise Trust. The trust takes over schools that need to improve and are all managed by chief executive David Triggs. Mike Barnett, a spokesman for the Academies Enterprise Trust, said: “This is excellent news for Greensward. “Although it is too early to say how much the building programme will be worth, it is likely to represent a multi-million investment in the school buildings and in information technology. “Greensward pupils and staff deserve the very best learning environment in which to work and prosper. “This represents a major step forward into making this ambition become a reality.”
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Echo Report 13th February 2010 – Mark Francois criticises plan for homes in Hawkwell
A Tory MP has said plans to build 300 homes in Hawkwell is like trying to “cram a quart into a pint pot”. Rayleigh MP Mark Francois has written to the chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate to list his objection to the proposals from David Wilson Homes to build more than 300 houses at Christmas tree farm. The application was refused by Rochford councillors and it is now in the process of going to the Government inspector for appeal. Hawkwell Parish Council and 192 members of the public objected, and a 250-signature petition was handed in to the council. The scheme was refused by the council’s development control committee as overdevelopment of the green belt site and conflicted with the council’s development plan. Mr Francois also raised his concerns about the amount of traffic and said the development was not in keeping with the area. He said: “I have received a number of letters and e-mails from my constituents who are opposed to this application. I, too, am concerned this represents overdevelopment in Hawkwell. There simply is not the infrastructure to cope with a development of this scale and I believe it is a bit like trying to ‘cram a quart into a pint pot’. I hope the inspector may yet decide to turn down the appeal.” The appeal is set to be heard this spring but a date has not yet been set.
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Save £35 per year from sewerage
If you home was built in the past 20 years or so, it has probably got a soakaway in the garden for the roof rain water. Did you know that you can now save around £35 per year from you sewerage charge by informing Anglian Water? They will back date the reduction on your bill but only for the tax year to April 2009. To save around £35 for this tax year and all future tax years just freephone Anglian Water on 0800 91 222 91 with your request.
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Echo Report 12th January 2010 – Hockley residents raise 100-household petition against car wash
Residents in Hockley are furious a car wash built without planning permission is operating fully. James Hand Car Wash and Valeting Service, in Alderman’s Hill, has been operating since before Christmas, despite resident objections and a petition. The Echo first reported residents’ concerns about unauthorised building work on the site last month. Since then, further fences and signs have gone up at the site. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “The council seems to be dragging its feet about this. “We have a 100-household strong petition opposing this car wash, which was submitted to the council mid-December. “I can’t believe they are trading at the premises.” Rochford Council’s head of planning and transportation, Shaun Scrutton, said: “The operator has been informed works on the site are unauthorised and undertaken at their own risk. “It has been recommended all works cease until planning issues are resolved. A planning application has been received, which seeks to regularise the use of the site as a car wash. “Residents will be consulted on their views before a decision is made.”
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Echo Report 6th January 2010 – Homes plan is rejected after green belt row
Developers have appealed against a council decision to refuse plans for 330 new homes on green belt land. David Wilson Homes wanted to build the houses off Rectory Road, Hawkwell, but Rochford District Council rejected the plans last month. The development would include community and health facilities, roads and open space at a tree nursery called Christmas Tree Farm. The proposals generated opposition among neighbours, who said the scheme would damage the character of the village. Hawkwell Parish Council and 192 members of the public objected, while a 250-person petition was handed in to the council. David Wilson Homes claimed the site had previously been identified as potential housing land, and would have to be used in the future. Council members rejected the plans because the housing would be on green belt land, and was out of character with the surrounding semi-rural area. But the developers have challenged the reasons for refusal. Agent Martin Hull states “the council has misunderstood the extent of their own housing need”, and the green belt boundary around Hawkwell should be moved “to create an appropriate boundary”. An inquiry will be heard by a Government inspector this spring. Neighbours can attend and ask to address the inquiry.
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Echo Report 21st December 2009 – Outrage as car wash is built without approval
A car wash is being put up without planning permission in Hockley. Rochford District Council has called on those building the car wash, at the site of a former vehicle rental firm in Alderman’s Hill, to stop work immediately. But yesterday the Echo saw workers continuing the development and digging a drain. Residents got suspicious after a 12ft sign went up outside the site advertising James Hand Carwash and Valeting Service. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “It is an outrage this is still being built. It is on top of a hill, so our concern is the water and chemicals will run off into the drainage system. “It will be dangerous at this time of year, creating black ice. “Also, the emergency services use this as a main route into Hullbridge, causing further concern over accidents from the slippery conditions the valeting service will create. If there is an accident on the road caused by the valeting service, will it be to blame or the council?” A board has been put up around the site, with work going on behind it. Shaun Scrutton, the council’s head of planning and transportation, said: “The operator has been informed that works on the site are unauthorised and undertaken at their own risk. “It has been recommended all works cease until planning issues are resolved. The council has been told a planning application is being prepared for the use of the site as a car wash, and consent will also be sought for the erection of a wall alongside Folly Lane. “It is understood the underground petrol tanks have been filled with foam and made safe to the satisfaction of the petroleum officer.” The Echo tried to talk to the workers yesterday, but our questions went unanswered. Residents with concerns have been told to contact the council’s planning department by email, letter or phone.
 In a lather – residents got suspicious when the 12ft-high sign advertising a new car wash went up in Alderman’s Hill.
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Our objections to Southend Borough Council Airport Planning Application Reference 09/01960/FULM
We would like to object on the following grounds:
Core Strategy - Any proposals should take into account the Rochford and Southend Core Strategies when and if they get government approvals. They should also take into account public opinion which appears to be being ignored at the moment.
Green Belt - We are totally opposed to the destruction of green belt land and areas that are prime agricultural land and should be retained as such. Using this land to provide space for the runway extension and new industrial sites on the basis of support for the development of an airport that will reduce the quality of life of our residents is unacceptable.
B1013 Road - We accept that the airport as proposed in the JAAP will have an impact on traffic, but is totally devoid of any concrete proposals to minimise or even limit the additional traffic that must arise from the proposals in particular along the B1013. In particular the airport is not well served by public transport, so workers will “have to take to their cars”. There will also be additional road traffic necessary to service the maintenance and servicing side of the airport. They will need parts etc and the majority of these will no doubt come by road. We would like to a written commitment to improve the B1013 road through Hawkwell and Hockley.
Pollution - We are aware that flight paths, in certain circumstances, are over Hawkwell and therefore we are being subjected to additional noise and air pollution above the current levels, we should surely be looking to reduce current levels further not approving increases which will surely happen. We believe that the routing of aircraft on both take-off and landing could reduce noise and environmental impact to our area.
Night Flights - We understand that passenger flights are to be allowed to fly for over 80% of the day. We also understand that freight flights will be in addition to this, so flights may be operating for up to 24 hours per day. We find this as unacceptable and consider there must be a longer “window” when no flights are allowed. In our opinion a TOTAL ban on all night flights between 22:00 - 07:00 should be imposed.
We would like to have written restrictions on the following:
* Noise from engine testing, especially out of the working week - Monday to Friday.
* Pollution levels from aircraft.
* Noise levels from aircraft.
* Night flights.
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Yellow Advertiser Report 12th November 2009 – Hands off Hockley
Campaigners claim hundreds of residents they surveyed about plans to redevelop Hockley have rejected the plans. Members of Hockley Residents Association, Hockley Parish Plan Group and Hockley Under Treat spoke to 1,000 people about Rochford District Council’s Hockley Area Action Plan. Rochford District Council aims to formulate a design for Hockley, Rayleigh and Rochford town centres by 2011. Brian Guyett, chairman of Hockley Residents Association, claimed only five per cent were in favour of major redevelopment and13 per cent wanted to retain the Spa Road junction. He said: “This second consultation reinforces the great desire by the majority of residents to keep Hockley as a village. “It is very frustrating that the council has strengthened their redevelopment proposals despite the plans being rejected in their own earlier consultation. “We hope the council and the Government Inspector will take note of their views.” All three groups arranged a special meeting, which was due to take place on Tuesday at Greensward Academy, in Greensward Lane, Hockley. Keith Hudson (Con, Hockley Central), Rochford District Council’s cabinet member for planning, said it was ‘vital’ the council listens to residents and businesses. He said: “We have no plan at present. We are in consultations with the people of Hockley and have another round of consultations next spring. “We will take every persons point of view seriously to help us to formulate the plans. “The plans are desperately important for Hockley. It is imperative we have control on what our village and town centres look like. If we don’t have a plan in place any developer could submit an application.”
PROTEST: Hockley campaigners have fears over the village’s future.
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Echo Report 12th November 2009 – Councillors quizzed on future of Hockley
More than 100 concerned residents confronted councillors at a meeting about the future of Hockley. The meeting was to discuss the Hockley Area Action Plan, which includes six possible options for the future of the town including the redevelopment of Eldon Way Industrial Estate, renovating shops in Spa Road and creating a new square in Spa Road. Residents and business owners expressed their fears and concerns to district councillors, about the possibility of moving traders from the industrial estates to Southend Airport to allow room for more housing. Brian Guyett, chairman of the Hockley Residents’ Association, said: “What the plan actually says is the land in Eldon Way and Foundry industrial estates will be reallocated. “You have already made the decision.” Conservative councillor Keith Hudson said he would listen to any concerns from businesses or residents. He said: “I’m a Hockley resident, I have lived here since the Seventies and I know what I want for my home town and for my children. “We will never suit everyone in a democracy, but I want to suit the majority. “This is not about queueing up bulldozers to knock out Hockley. It is about producing a plan to which every application has to conform. “That means any developer will have to comply with what we, as a town, want.” For more information about the plan go to www.rochford. gov.uk paper copies are available at the council offices and Hockley library.
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Hockley Residents Association Meetings & Coach Trips
All meetings are held in the large seminar room at Kilnfield House next to Hockley Station on every 2nd Tuesday of each month at 19.30hrs. Please click on the title link above for the Hockley Residents Association website.
For an up to date list of coach trips with pickup points in Hawkwell click on: http://www.hockleyresidents.co.uk/events.htm , ring Brian O’shea on 01702 204334 or email brian.oshea@hockleyresidents.co.uk .
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The Results of the Hockley Village Centre Survey
Hockley Residents Association, Hockley Under Threat and Hockley Parish Plan Group, together carried out a short 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 asked Hawkwell residents to take the survey to also get their preferences for the area. To see the results of the survey please click on the title link above.
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Our objections to RDC against the David Wilson Homes Planning Application 09/00529/OUT
The Hawkwell Residents Association has had many objections to the proposed David Wilson Homes Planning Application 09/00529/OUT. We regard the Christmas Tree Farm area as totally unsuitable for the 300 plus homes proposed in the application for the following reasons:
· The proposed additional lane added to Rectory Road at the mini-roundabout would not be sufficient. 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 expansion goes ahead.
· We would like to see no new homes built on green belt land in our area but access to this area is poorly served by a traffic light controlled single lane at the railway bridge which will be turned into a continuous traffic jam if these homes and the homes proposed for the Brays Lane area are built.
· The stated government policy of using 60% brown field sites first before green field seems to have been reversed, with many potential sites for building being of a green field nature.
· If the 300 plus homes were to be located in one place it will change the nature of the village. We believe it would be better to spread them throughout the Hawkwell area. Consideration should be given to the proximity of shops and schools as due to the lack of public transport additional car usage would result.
· That comprehensive consultation has not taken place with ECC, other district councils, local parish / town councils, residents associations and other interested parties in and around our district.
· The additional homes will put an enormous strain on the infrastructure of our area, particularly the road system.
· Loss of Green Belt in our area, which would change our village into a town.
· Additional vehicles on the roads from the building of the new homes, the additional residents, their delivery services and visitors and the proposed airport expansion traffic.
· Additional demand on our doctors and dentists.
· Additional demand on schools and social services.
· The number 7 and 8 bus has now been reduced to mainly one bus an hour and there is now no evening number 8 service through this area.
· Additional demand on gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface / storm water drainage.
· ECC have stated that the B1013 is now running at 72% capacity. The Core Strategy proposal would bring the traffic to an unbearable level. No details and estimated costs are given of the many road improvement we believe would be necessary as listed below.
· This area is enclosed by the River Crouch, the sea and the Thames and is only properly accessed from the west. For this reason we believe the sensible place to locate additional homes would be in the western part of Rochford district.
· We believe that no major infrastructure improvements have been carried out in the Hawkwell area for more than 30 years. Even if the current Core Strategy Submission document figure of 175 new homes for Hawkwell were proposed for the Rectory Road area, we believe a development of this proportion would require the following:
1. Upgrade Rectory Road and widen road and footpath at the Christmas Tree Farm area.
2. Replace traffic light controlled single lane at the railway bridge with a wider bridge.
3. Upgrade the B1013 Hall Road and provide missing and upgrade existing pavements.
4. Proper main road street lighting for the B1013 Hall Road.
5. A cycle path route from Rochford through Hockley to Rayleigh.
6. Return to two buses an hour in both directions for the 7 and 8 services between Southend and Rayleigh and the return of the 8 evening bus service.
7. Improvements to all services including gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface / storm water drainage.
8. Increase capacity at all the local Schools in the area.
9. Increase capacity at all the local Doctors and Dentists and hospital services in the area.
10. Increase ambulance, fire and police emergency services.
11. Provide and run a youth club in the Hawkwell area.
12. To provide and run allotments in the Hawkwell area.
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Our Response to the RDC Core Strategy Submission document
The Hawkwell Residents Association has discussed the RDC Core Strategy Submission document and wishes to object on the grounds of unsoundness or legally non compliant due to the following points:
· Producing a heavy weight document that prevented printing and general distribution was an unfair method of consultation.
· This document does not fully take into consideration the impact of the JAAP report and the reports for the proposed redevelopment of Hockley, Rochford and Rayleigh.
· The stated government policy of using 60% brown field sites first before green field seems to have been reversed, with many potential sites for building being of a green field nature.
· If the 175 homes were to be located in one place it will change the nature of the village. We believe it would be better to spread them throughout the Hawkwell area. Consideration should be given to the proximity of shops and schools as due to the lack of public transport additional car usage would result.
· That comprehensive consultation has not taken place with ECC, other district councils, local parish / town councils, residents associations and other interested parties in and around our district.
· The additional homes will put an enormous strain on the infrastructure of our area, particularly the road system, which has not been addressed in the document.
· Loss of Green Belt in our area, which would change our village into a town.
· Additional vehicles on the roads from the building of the new homes, the additional residents, their delivery services and visitors and the proposed airport expansion traffic.
· Additional demand on our doctors and dentists.
· Additional demand on schools and social services.
· The number 7 and 8 bus has now been reduced to mainly one bus an hour and there is now no evening number 8 service.
· Additional demand on gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface / storm water drainage.
· Moving Eldon Way and the Foundry Estate to a green belt site at the airport area will increase mileage for employees and the lack of public transport will limit employment to car users. We believe cycling would be a poor and unrealistic substitute.
· ECC have stated that the B1013 is now running at 72% capacity. The Core Strategy proposal would bring the traffic to an unbearable level. No details and estimated costs are given of the many road improvement we believe would be necessary as listed below.
· This area is enclosed by the River Crouch, the sea and the Thames and is only properly accessed from the west. For this reason we believe the sensible place to locate additional homes would be in the western part of Rochford district.
· We believe that no major infrastructure improvements have been carried out in the Hawkwell area for more than 30 years. We also believe that the following infrastructure improvements in the Hawkwell / Hockley area, that are not included in the Core Strategy document, should be addressed before any additional homes are built:
1. Replacement of Rectory Road Railway Bridge for two-way traffic.
2. Computer controlled traffic lights at the Rectory Road / Hall Road junction.
3. Upgrade Rectory Road and widen road and footpath at the Christmas Tree Farm area.
4. Upgrade the B1013 Hall Road and provide missing and upgrade existing pavements.
5. Proper main road street lighting for the B1013 Hall Road and B1013 Rayleigh Road.
6. A cycle path route from Rochford through Hockley to Rayleigh.
7. A new pelican crossing in B1013 Main Road near Tudor Way.
8. Return to two buses an hour in both directions for the 7 and 8 services between Southend and Rayleigh and the return of the 8 evening bus service.
9. Improvements to all services including gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface / storm water drainage.
10. Increase capacity at all the local Schools in the area.
11. Increase capacity at all the local Doctors and Dentists and hospital services in the area.
12. Increase ambulance, fire and police emergency services.
13. Provide and run a youth club in the Hawkwell area.
14. To provide and run allotments in the Hawkwell area.
15. To extend the existing Cherry Orchard Park to Mount Bovers Lane and Hockley Woods.
16. Replace the existing Hockley Spa roundabout with a wider traffic light junction complete with pedestrian cross lights.
17. Install a double mini roundabout at Station Road and Station Approach junction with Spa Road for Hockley Station.
18. Install a mini roundabout on the B1013 at Folly Lane.
19. Make up / Upgrade Plumberow Avenue through to Lower Road in Hockley complete with pavements, main road street lighting and a mini roundabout at the Lower Road junction.
20. Upgrade Watery Lane / Beeches Road in Hullbridge from Lower Road complete with pavements, main road street lighting and a mini roundabout at the Lower Road junction.
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Echo Report 16th October 2009 – Dentist fills the gap, but only for a few months
A part-time dentist has been found to offer extra NHS treatment in Hockley over the next few months. A new dentist, Abdul Said, has started working two days a week at the White Hart Lane Dental Surgery, in Hockley, and is contracted until the end of December. The extra services, paid for by the primary care trust NHS South East Essex, is to alleviate a shortage of NHS dental services in both Hockley and Rochford. Brian Guyett, chairman of Hockley Residents Association, said: “We welcome this further increase in providing NHS dental services in Hockley. This reflects years of campaigning by the residents’ association to help catch Hockley up with service levels in the rest of the area. “There is still some way to go and we will continue to press the trust for our fair share.” Ian Stidston, the primary care trust’s deputy director of commissioning and contracting, said: “We are committed to securing the provision of long-term NHS dental services across south east Essex and are in the midst of a tendering process to secure additional long-term provision of NHS dental services in Hockley as soon as possible.” White Hart Lane has three full-time dentists working there, in addition to Dr Said. At the Rochford Dental Surgery in West Street, Rochford, a new full-time NHS dentist started in August bringing the number of NHS dentists there to two.
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Echo Report 8th October 2009 – Campaigners’ fears for industrial estates
Campaigners claim controversial plans to force the closure and redevelopment of two industrial estates have been slipped into a council planning document “at the last minute”. Some Hockley residents are concerned about Rochford Dis-trict Council proposals affecting the town’s Eldon Way and Foundry industrial estates, which could see them be used as housing and the businesses relocated. The proposals are among options proposed in the council’s Hockley Area Action Plan, which aims to revitalise the town centre. Pressure groups the Hockley Residents Association and Hockley Under Threat said the plans had also been put into Rochford District Council’s core strategy document, a blueprint for future development in the district. The groups are both urging their members and the public to oppose the core strategy scheme, during its consultation period. Brian Guyett, chairman of the residents group, said: “The council is proposing the compulsory relocation of the two industrial estates to make room for development including an estimated 150 or 200 homes. “The council is also proposing to build a new industrial estate on green belt land at the airport and it is expected many of the existing businesses will relocate to this site. “These proposals have been included at the last moment without any announcement and we do not believe most residents are aware of the implications. “We are encouraging everyone to object to the proposals.” Gabrielle Yeadell, chairman of Hockley Under Threat, added: “The council has ignored the 95 per cent rejection rate of its own consultation on the action plan and is trying to impose change without discussion. “We hope members will reconsider.” But Keith Hudson, the district councillor responsible for planning, said there had always been a reference to the industrial estates in the core strategy. He added: “The strategy says in the case of the Eldon Way and Foundry industrial estates the nature of any redevelopment would include employment uses. “We will look at the opportunities for more valuable and appropriate uses of the industrial land between Hockley station and the town centre, potentially as a mixed development.” To find out more about the core strategy document, call the council on 01702 318191. The consultation ends at 5pm on November 2.
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Echo Report 3rd September 2009 – Crack down on yobs trashing area’s parks
A council worker is calling for a crackdown on yobs misbehaving in parks. The Rochford District Council employee, who did not wish to be named, contacted the Echo about vandalism, antisocial behaviour and underage drinking in parks in Rayleigh, Hockley and Hawkwell. The man, who regularly litter-picks in 11 sites across Rochford district, raised particular concerns about Clements Hall where the teen shelter has been continuously smashed up, and Sweyne Park. He also said in Fairview playing fields, in Rayleigh, a number of trees were recently snapped at the entrance to the field and he spent an hour clearing up after garden furniture was dumped there. The man is calling for police to give out dispersal orders and fines in these parks to remove the troublemakers. He said: “I have lived in Rayleigh for many years and it is slowly turning into a tip. It breaks my heart to see this mindless behaviour. “The amount of litter and broken bottles that has to be cleared at Sweyne Park is bad. “It’s a shame because there are many young groups of youths that behave well, but there are a small minority that treat the facilities with no respect. Tony Humphries, Rayleigh councillor and chairman of Rochford District Council, agreed dispersal orders could be the way forward. He said: “It is a major problem and not restricted to only one park. Anything like a dispersal order that will stop these vandals congregating in such numbers is a good thing. “We need to encourage youngsters to take part in activities like sport, cadets and youth groups to become more social-minded and civilise their behaviour.”
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Echo Report 19th August 2009 – It's thumbs down for new-look town centre
Residents have given a “resounding thumbs-down” to a council plan to revamp Hockley, a pressure group says. The Hockley Under Threat campaign was set up by neighbours in response to the Hockley Area Action Plan, which aims to revitalise the town centre with new shops, a smarter look and more homes. Earlier this year, Rochford District Council asked residents what they would like to see. But many complained they were unaware of the plans. The group’s committee has examined more than 250 responses to the plan and found 77 per cent were against. Of the 253 responses, 195 were opposed to the plan and ten expressed support, while the remaining 48 were general comments. Gabrielle Yeadell, chairman of the group, said: “Rochford District Council had put forward an area action plan with no visible notification to traders or residents. “A public meeting was held in Hockley on April 19 where the majority objected to the plan. “The group was formed to raise awareness of the plan and to work with other organisations to make clear to the council the plan was unacceptable in its current form.” The council put forward six options, all of which included redevelopment of the town centre and building 100-150 flats. Some options suggested redeveloping the Eldon Industrial Estate, moving businesses from the park and creating a new town square in Spa Road, near the junction with Eldon Way. Keith Hudson, district councillor for planning, said: “This was a consultation document, not a plan. “We wanted positive feedback indicating people’s preference. We want to draw up something that suits residents and businesses and come back with something to please the majority of people. “Without such a blueprint, it will be difficult to resist applications which have no place in a village centre, such as a huge supermarket.” Mr Hudson said residents had been notified of the proposals in the council magazine, Rochford District Matters, in a presentation to Hockley Residents’ Association and at the council's west area committee meeting. He said there would be further consultation next year.
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Hockley Under Threat (HUT) Press Release - Hockley Redevelopment Plans Rejected by Villagers
95% Reject Rochford District Council’s Hockley Area Action Plan Proposal. Hockley residents who responded to the Rochford District Council (RDC) consultation over its Hockley Area Action Plan (HAAP) gave it a resounding thumbs-down. Over 95% of the respondents explicitly said no to the plan as it stands.
Six ways to destroy the heart of a village. RDC put forward six options including large scale redevelopment of theVillage centre and surrounding area. This included the change of use of current brownfield land at Eldon Way to additional housing. This would displace the existing businesses, relocating them to what is currently green belt land.
Why are the locals so upset. Anger at the way RDC managed the HAAP consultation phase led to an independent public meeting being held in Hockley on 19 April 2009. Here residents angrily voiced their concerns that RDC had failed to publicise the plan effectively, leaving them little time to respond to the formal consultation phase. Campaigners are convinced that many residents remain unaware of these plans.
Here’s why. Concerns from residents included the need to retain the Village character, not add any additional stress to the local infrastructure or amenities (buses, medical facilities, shops, etc.) and the need to fundamentally engage with local residents to develop a suitable and widely acceptable solution for any future redevelopment.
Who built the “HUT”? The meeting’s 400 strong attendees fully supported the formation of a new local interest group, the Hockley Under Threat Campaign (HUT), chaired by Ms Gabrielle Yeadell. This group’s aim is to increase public awareness of the HAAP, to engage them in understanding the contents and to work with other local organisations in making Hockley residents’ opinions known to RDC.
Determining policy before consultation. It has now come to light that RDC has made amendments to its separate Core Strategy (CS) which effectively implements a large element of the HAAP proposal without any additional consultation (Eldon Way redevelopment into housing). These amendments to the CS are expected to be approved by RDC on 9 September 2009.
Outrage that RDC appear to be ignoring its own consultation results. A spokesperson for the HUT Campaign revealed that they will be seeking to alert residents to the threat and to ensure that RDC takes due note of residents’ views. They asked “What is the point of having a consultation and then totally ignoring it? As a first step, we hope that RDC will urgently reconsider their Core Strategy plans!”
Read more. Further information can be found via the HUT campaign website: http://www.hockleyunderthreat.com/
Anne Skeet press@hockleyunderthreat.com
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Our Response to the 370 David Wilson Homes proposal
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 330 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, which can be read on this page below.
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 will 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 the following:
. Computer controlled traffic lights at the Rectory Road / Hall Road junction.
. Replacement of Rectory Road Railway Bridge to give two-way traffic.
. Rectory Road adjacent to the Christmas Tree Farm should be a widened and wider pavements added.
. Proper main road street lighting for the B1013 Hall Road.
. Upgrade the B1013 Hall Road and provide missing and upgrade existing pavements.
. An assurance that the evening number 8 bus will be reinstated and a half hour daytime service provided.
. Improvements to all services including gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface / storm water drainage.
. Increase capacity at the local Schools, Doctors and Dentists.
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 by using the Contact Us page.
Rochford District Council, Council Offices, South Street, Rochford, Essex SS4 1BW
David Wilson Homes, Freepost: RRRL-GLUR-KXXH, HardHat Communications, The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London WCIE 7BT
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Echo Report 4th August 2009 – Villagers are urged to oppose proposals to build 370 houses
An action group is urging people to stand up to housing developers over its plans for 370 new homes. David Wilson Homes is proposing to build the houses off Rectory Road, in Hawkwell, but families in the area have spoken out against the plans, saying the scheme would damage the character of the village. The Hawkwell Action Group, which has about 300 members, has been distributing leaflets and posters giving residents information about the plans. The posters state “no more houses” and an accompanying flyer gives information and contact details for the ward’s Independent district councillor, John Mason, as well as David Wilson Homes. Already, about 350 leaflets have been dropped in the area surrounding the development, and the group’s Carol Dutton said there would be more to come. She said: “The development which has been proposed is huge. It will completely take away the semi-rural feeling of the area. “There are an awful lot of people very upset about the plans. “You’re never going to stop a few houses going up here and there, but these will just devastate the community. We will be fighting tooth and nail all the way.” The plans came under scrutiny at public exhibitions last week and the group has written to Rayleigh Conservative MP Mark Francois. The developers have said they want to build the homes at the land known as Christmas Tree Farm, but no planning application has yet been submitted.
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Echo Report 3rd August 2009 – More people speak against house plans
Opposition is mounting over plans for 370 new homes on green belt land in Hawkwell Developer David Wilson Homes wants to build the houses on land off Rectory Road, taking in the area known as Christmas Tree Farm, as well as surrounding agricultural land. The proposals prompted criticism from residents at a public exhibition in Clements Hall Leisure Centre, Hawkwell, where the company outlined its plans which include some low-cost homes, road improvements and play areas. Teacher Paul Norman, 29, of Rectory Road, said: “Hawkwell is a semi rural community. It’s a village. 370 houses are not going to reflect what this village is about.” He said the village’s infrastructure could not cope with the extra homes and added: “We already have problems with quite regular power cuts. To have this many new homes wouldn’t help that.” Rochford District Council, which is looking at new housebuilding in the area to meet Government targets, had originally proposed 330 new homes in Hawkwell, but then reduced the quota to 175, after listening to the views of residents. Mr Norman added: “We recognise there is a Government directive to put houses in the area, but this is not proportionate. “For the local authority to reduce the number of houses and then a private company to come along and say it is going to put 370 houses there is a kick in the teeth.” The Hawkwell Action Group, which has around 300 members, is also against the plans. Member Carol Dutton said: “Putting a housing estate in an area like this is always going to cause a lot of disruption. “The strength of feeling is running very, very high at the moment.” She also said wildlife such as badgers and muntjack deer are in the Christmas Tree Farm area. She said: “No-one is saying you can’t build the odd few houses, but these developers want 370 there. That will completely change the face of the area.” Speaking of the responses from people at the exhibition, Patrick Clark, spokesman for David Wilson homes, said: “Obviously when you hold an exhibition the majority of the people who come along are responding to issues they feel are of concern. You tend to get more activists.”
Extra homes will spoil our village
Visitors to the exhibition remain concerned about the planned development. Dorothy Jones, 51, of Main Road, Hawkwell has lived in the area for 25 years. She said: “You don’t expect things to stay in the past, but there used to be a defining line between the villages and all they’re doing is closing it and filling the green spaces. “We have already got problems with traffic in this area, we go out sometimes helping people out of their cars after they have had accidents. Another 300 houses will have two or three cars each.” Gareth Jones, 51, of Main Road, Hawkwell, said: “The road here has been exactly the same width since 1907. There are pictures of it in the library. “These roads are no wider than what they were 100 years ago when people were using horse and carts. “If this goes ahead it will never go back to being farmland again it will slowly be built up. We’re just getting fed up with it. “They’re talking about widening the road near the mini roundabout on Rectory Road. How can they widen it? The area there is not wide enough.” Diane Wiseman, 63, of Main Road, Hawkwell has lived in the area for 23 years. She said: “Affordable housing means social housing and I am concerned about the provision of school places and the pressure on doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries.” James Wiseman, 40, of Main Road, Hawkwell, said: “My issue is the council said in the core development plan it was only going to put 170 homes in and now David Wilson is saying 370 homes. “The other concern I have is the rat run that Thorpe Road will become. Everybody is going to go that way. “The amount of money the developers are going to make they could afford to put a bus service in. “If they know this is going to be social housing they should put it down as social housing. “Social housing means that people can come into the area, its not benefit to the local people at all. It will change the village completely.”
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Echo Report 31st July 2009 – Campaigners win battle to stop pub staging outside events
Campaigning villagers have won their battle to stop a pub staging outside events. Members of the newly-formed White Hart Lane Residents’ Group were joined by other residents concerned about the application by the White Hart Inn, Hockley. The pub wanted a licence to stage events inside and outside the building, including live bands. But residents said it would cause noise and disruption and the pub was told it could only put on live bands inside, and the doors and windows must be closed. Julie Hindley, of the residents’ group, has lived in the road for 25 years. She said: “I’ve never had cause to complain before, however since the White Hart staged its first outdoor music event, my view has changed. “It was so loud I was driven inside. After the event I discovered they had applied for a permanent licence.” Neil Smith and his business partner took over the pub 18 months ago. Mr Smith’s wife, Deborah, said in her submission to the committee they were trying to find ways to keep the pub open for future generations. She said: “Pubs are closing every week and people are not coming out just for a drink, we have to provide more than drinks sales to keep the doors open.” She said they had hoped to hold four events a year for a maximum of two-and-a-half hours, finishing at 7.30pm, and they had discussed these plans in a meeting with some of the residents that had the original objections. Council leader Terry Cutmore said: “Entertainment inside will be permitted as long as all windows and doors are closed. Applicants are entitled to apply for a temporary license from the police for outside events.”
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Echo Report 28th July 2009 – Developer wants to build 370 homes on green belt
Developers are planning 370 new homes on green belt land in Hawkwell. David Wilson Homes will reveal its proposals at two public exhibitions at nearby Clements Hall Leisure Centre on Thursday and Saturday. The company wants to build the homes on land off Rectory Road, taking in the area known as Christmas Tree Farm, as well as surrounding agricultural land. It is more than double the amount Rochford District Council wants to see. John Mason, Hawkwell Independent councillor, has fought against previous applications for housing in the village. He said: “This is an interesting development and it seems to be very premature in any case. “Opposition in the area has already brought the number of homes in Hawkwell proposed up to 2021 down from 330 to 175 and now we find a proposal for 370 from a developer. “As a planning application is involved, it is difficult to comment on this scheme until we know the full details, which will obviously have to be looked at on their merits. “At first sight, I would say this will need a great deal of explanation before local people would accept it.” David Parker, 73, of Rectory Road, said: “We just do not want more housing in the area. We are already overcrowded and we haven’t got the roads or the other infrastructure to cope.” Keith Hudson, Rochford district councillor responsible for planning, said the council had reduced the number of homes from 330 to 175 in the core strategy after listening to the views of residents. He added: “Any application which is put in by David Wilson Homes will be looked at in the same way as any other and will be considered against local and national planning policy as well as the council’s local development framework.” Kay Patrick, spokeswoman for David Wilson, said: “Rectory Road is one of the sites which may be designated for future housing. “David Wilson Homes is proposing to develop a residential scheme of 370 homes and is preparing to submit a planning application. “The exhibition will seek the opinion of local residents to inform the planning process.” The exhibitions will be held at the Rochford Suite, Clements Hall Leisure Centre, Clements Hall Way, Hawkwell, on Thursday, between noon and 5pm and on Saturday August 1 between 10am and 2pm.
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Echo Report 10th July 2009 – GP company will run doctors
A COMPANY has been appointed to run GP services in Rochford and Hawkwell. The Practice is a limited company founded by GPs five years ago, providing community-based healthcare for the NHS. The services will be run from 1 Leecon Way, Rochford, and 2 Hawkwell Park Drive, Hawkwell, with the existing doctors and other staff. Previously it was run by GPs and the primary care trust, NHS South East Essex. Katherine Kirk, chairman of NHS South East Essex, which chose the company, said: “We are delighted with the selection of the Practice as new service providers at Rochford and Hawkwell Practice. “Work can now begin to develop and enhance services to ensure they meet local patient needs, supported by the established patient group, who were closely involved in the tendering and procurement process.” The patients’ representative group was closely involved in the process to find and select a new provider. Ken Berry, a patient at the practice, said: “I feel assured we have now found a provider which will deliver the services we need. “This has been a long process, but I am sure we now have a solid foundation to enable us to continue providing the best medical care for our community.”
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Echo Report 16th June 2009 – Bus review ‘lacked vision’
A COUNCIL committee has come under fire for failing to make any recommendations about the future of bus services in Hockley, Hawkwell and Ashingdon. Rochford District Council’s review committee was asked to carry out a review of buses in the district following controversy over changes to services 7 and 8. However, the committee has only suggested how any future consultation about buses could be improved. John Mason, independent councillor for Hawkwell, said: “It seems the campaign to get an evening bus back for Hawkwell has hit an iceberg in the form of the review committee. “It appears it is just going to give up and do nothing, leaving Hawkwell with no bus service at all in the evening. “I want residents to know the review committee is about to publish a report which simply dumps their needs because it does not have the vision, energy and enthusiasm to fight for improvements for residents.” Review committee chairman June Lumley said there were several reasons why the committee had not made any recommendations regarding the evening service on the No 8 service in Hawkwell. She said: “There has not been an evening service on this route since 2002 and the whole reason for our study was the recent reductions Arriva made to the service. “In addition, there were concerns that if the subsidy to the No 7 evening service was split, we could finish up with a situation where neither service would be viable. “However, Essex County Council and Arriva did agree to look at the possibility and I believe this is still ongoing.”
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Our Response to the RDC HAAP
In response to the RDC Hockley Area Action Plan we have put together our initial thoughts. We would like to retain the village feel but would also like to see some of the following gradual improvements to the village centre:
. The current shops remaining mainly as they are with permitted redevelopment where and when required. We do not believe a new and larger supermarket is necessary as it could lead to the closure of even more shops.
. Additional free village centre parking is required, maybe by purchasing the vacant Aldays area and building a free public car park on this site.
. Eldon Way to remain mainly commercial, light industrial and leisure. Moving Eldon Way businesses to an expanded Southend Airport commercial area off Cherry Orchard Way would be very expensive and create a lot of additional mileage for employees. There is also currently no public transport to this area. Getting additional public transport is not an easy thing as we have discovered with the number 8 evening service. Some redevelopment of the Eldon Estate with shops and flats could be built on the south side backing on to the current shops. This could be in a traffic free area with road access from the front part of Eldon Way. Eldon Way may require a traffic light junction with Spa Road.
. We are not sure that locating a large clinic in Eldon Way or at the Spa Junction is appropriate as this could generate a large volume of traffic and parking in the centre of the village. If one of these locations is chosen sufficient free parking should be provided.
. We do not believe relocating the sorting office is necessary unless the Royal Mail wants to move inside the Eldon Way commercial area. We are concerned that forcing the sorting office to relocate could lead to its closure. If they did want to relocate, the current site would be a good location for additional shops, flats and parking.
. If the current run down Foundry Estate wanted to relocate into upgraded units in Eldon Way it could be replaced with housing and flats in keeping with those already in this area. There would also be the future possibility to expand this area into the adjacent south east corner of Eldon Way without the need for access from Eldon Way.
. The entrance / exit areas north and south of the station need improving with better drop off, turn round, pedestrian paving, parking and taxi rank facilities.
. The junction of Station Approach and Station Road with Spa Road needs Addressing. We suggest a double mini roundabout may work.
. The Spa mini roundabout junction needs replacing. Although traffic lights were apparently used here over 40 years ago, traffic lights in use over 40 years ago would not compare with the traffic light computer controlled technology of today. One of the failings with this mini roundabout is that traffic coming from Spa Road is able to hold up the B1013 trough traffic from Rayleigh. This could be carefully controlled with modern traffic lights and they would have the added advantage of better pedestrian crossing. Also the junction needs to be widened out with an additional dedicated lane for traffic travelling from the west into Spa Road. We do not believe stopping traffic entering Woodland Road would be beneficial as this would make the already poor situation at the Main Road / Hockley Rise junction even worse.
. The proposed green walk through the church ground is a good idea if practical but it does not line up with the pedestrian crossing that is at present near the Spa Junction. To make this work the crossing would need to be moved to the car park / library area.
. Although many of the shops on Main Road at the west entrance to the village are empty, this location still suffers from a severe shortage of parking and unloading facilities. This may be a good opportunity to purchase the disused wood yard area and building a free public car park on this site.
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Our Response to the RDC JAAP Prefered Options
Any Southend Airport proposals should take into account the Rochford Core Strategy – we have not seen the final Rochford Core strategy and therefore we cannot weigh the pros and cons and develop a comprehensive response to you. A cynical view of this process would be that this proposal is going ahead no matter what the public say as it does not seek agreement only gives an opportunity to comment with no assurance that our views will be taken on board or at least ruled out by cogent argument. We are not convinced that there is any desire to limit the number of night flights. We are aware that flight paths, in certain circumstances, are over Hawkwell and therefore we are being subjected to additional noise and air pollution above the current levels, we should surely be looking to reduce current levels further not approving increases which will surely happen.
We accept that the airport as proposed in the JAAP will have an impact on traffic, but is totally devoid of any concrete proposals to minimise or even limit the additional traffic that must arise from the proposals. It is very worrying that this major issue is limited to a small paragraph in the report and is without any real proposals that would have impact on traffic volumes, in particular along the B1013. In particular the airport is not well served by public transport, so workers will “have to take to their cars”
We are totally opposed to the destruction of green belt land and areas that are prime agricultural land and should be retained as such. Using this land to provide space for new industrial sites on the basis of support for the development of an airport that will reduce the quality of life of our residents is unacceptable. So far this has not had any real environmental impact study published in an accessible format for resident to understand the effects of an airport operating at the proposed levels will be. If a brown filed site was to be used it would be of less impact to the countryside.
Our main concerns are the lack of real data in the public domain to enable us the public to have a reasoned discussion over the proposals put forward. We understand that passenger flights are to be allowed to fly for over 80% of the day. We understand also that freight flights will be in addition to this, so flights may be operating for up to 24 hours per day. We find this as unacceptable and consider there must be a longer “window” when no flights are allowed. In our opinion a TOTAL ban on all night flights between 22:00 - 07:00 should be imposed. We note that the routing of aircraft on both take-off and landing should be so organised to reduce noise and environmental impact. We note that there is no comment on the additional road traffic necessary to service the maintenance and servicing side of the airport. They will need parts etc and the majority of these will no doubt come by road.
We would like to have written restrictions on the following:
. Noise from engine testing, especially out of the working week - Monday to Friday.
. Pollution levels from aircraft
. Noise levels from aircraft
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Our Response to the RDC Core Strategy
The Hawkwell Residents Association has discussed the RDC Core Strategy document and wishes to put forward the following points:
· Producing a heavy weight document that prevented printing and general distribution was an unfair method of consultation.
· We believe the required additional homes should be built as a new village with self-contained services in the west of Rochford from a new access road to the A1245 (old A130). This is by far the best location for access to the existing trunk road network and would eliminate the detrimental effect on the rest of the district.
· Our concern is that we are being asked to respond to this document in isolation, without considering the impact of the JAAP report regarding Southend Airport and the Site Allocation Document.
· The stated government policy of 60% brown field first before green field seems to have been reversed, with many potential sites for building being of a green field nature.
· We are concerned that all the 330 houses could be centred in one place changing the nature of the village, we believe it would be better to spread them throughout the Hawkwell area.
· That comprehensive consultation takes place with ECC, other district councils, local parish / town councils, residents associations and other interested parties in and around our district.
The report continually talks about sustainability and we are concerned that no definition of sustainability has been made and we would seek clarification on this point. The additional homes will put an enormous strain on the infrastructure of our area, particularly the road system, which has not been addressed in the document. Our main concerns include:
· Loss of Green Belt in our area, which would change our village into a town.
· Additional vehicles on the roads including proposed additional airport traffic.
· Additional demand on our doctors and dentists.
· Additional demand on schools and social services.
· Bus services. It is now proposed to reduce the 7 and 8 to one bus an hour.
· Additional demand on gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface / storm water drainage.
Assuming the proposals go ahead with the current allocation of homes and the inevitable increase in airport traffic, we would like to see improvements to the infrastructure in and around Hawkwell to create a more sustainable environment. We would expect the necessary infrastructure to be in place before the commencement of any new development and to include the following:
· Replacement of Rectory Road Railway Bridge giving two-way traffic.
· Upgrade Rectory Road and widen at the Christmas Tree Farm area.
· Upgrade the B1013 Hall Road and provide missing and upgrade existing pavements.
· Proper main road street lighting for the B1013 Hall Road and B1013 Rayleigh Road.
· A cycle path route from Rochford through Hockley to Rayleigh.
· A new pelican crossing in B1013 Main Road near Tudor Way.
· Return to two buses an hour in both directions for the 7 and 8 services between Southend and Rayleigh.
· Improvements to all services including gas, electric, telephone, water, sewers and surface / storm water drainage.
· Increase capacity at all the local Schools in the area.
· Increase capacity at all the local Doctors and Dentists and hospital services in the area.
· Increase ambulance, fire and police emergency services.
· Provide and run a youth club in the Hawkwell area.
· To provide and run allotments in the Hawkwell area.
· To extend the existing Cherry Orchard Park to Mount Bovers Lane and Hockley Woods.
· Replace the existing Hockley Spa roundabout with a wider traffic light junction complete with pedestrian cross lights.
· Install a double mini roundabout at Station Road and Station Approach junction with Spa Road for Hockley Station.
· Install a mini roundabout on the B1013 at Folly Lane.
· Make up / Upgrade Plumberow Avenue through to Lower Road in Hockley complete with pavements, main road street lighting and a mini roundabout at the Lower Road junction.
· Upgrade Watery Lane / Beeches Road in Hullbridge from Lower Road complete with pavements, main road street lighting and a mini roundabout at the Lower Road junction.
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RDC press release on the Joint Area Action Plan (JAAP)
Let us make it perfectly clear, Rochford District Council is totally in favour of the plans for Southend Airport as depicted in our Preferred Options document published jointly with Southend Borough Council in February 2009. Our Preferred Options document was formulated from the information received from our previous consultation process where various options and scenarios were considered. The airport operators are encumbered by very few controls and limitations at present, including their ability to operate 30 flights, every night, all year long for what ever purpose they deem appropriate for their business. The new owners confirm that they are in favour of building and operating a proper passenger airport, up to 2 million passengers a year, similar to Southampton’s airport. To enable this and to attract appropriate airlines they need to extend the runway to accommodate more modern, efficient and quieter aircraft. It is only with a planning application for a runway extension that the Local Authority can place new controls and conditions on the operation of Southend Airport, including a significant reduction to the airport’s ability for night time operations. It is better to gain significant control now by this method so as to replace the insidious circumstance of virtually no public control at all.
Following an investment of many millions of pounds in the acquisition of this airport and with the intention of spending much more it is understandable that this Public quoted company will expect an appropriate return for its shareholders. It will either achieve it from the passenger airport that it had originally intended to build, additionally providing many thousands of urgently needed new jobs, or it will achieve it with the limited facilities that it has at present. Any politician of whatever hue who chooses to abandon his or her electorate to an uncontrolled and unguided major expansion of a commercial facility such as Southend Airport in favour of their own political survival deserves political oblivion. There will be an expansion of the airport operations, one way or another, it is better that there should be appropriate and stringent controls in place before it happens. Please refer to the attached noise contour map ( see airport website ) ; it demonstrates quite clearly how with an extended runway there will be no more noise in 2020 than was experienced in 1997. Without the extension to the runway the noise levels will probably be similar to the significantly larger footprint as shown on the map outlined in blue, as was experienced in the 60s and 70s.
Terry Cutmore & Keith Hudson - RDC
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Echo Report 25th May 2009 – Southend Airport expansion plan could be in jeopardy
Expansion plans for Southend Airport could be in jeopardy, as council bosses are set to abandon its support for the scheme. Informed sources say there have been thousands of objections to the Joint Area Action Plan consultation, which proposes a major expansion of the airport, together with the runway extension across Eastwoodbury Lane. Protest meetings in Eastwood and Leigh have been packed with objectors worried about noise levels and night flying if the airport is allowed to expand. Bosses at Southend and Rochford Councils backed the airport’s expansion plans, but now following a second consultation, sources are claiming it would be “political suicide” to support it. A source at Southend Council said: “There is a massive strength of feeling against the expansion. It looks like political suicide for a lot of people in the west of the town if they are to go for major expansion. “Opposition parties are almost certain to oppose the extension, which would leave the Tories isolated. “A lot of the objectors are coming from the Conservative heartlands, like West Leigh and Belfairs.” There appears to be less opposition to the proposals in the Rochford district because very few homes would be affected by perceived noise from the expansion. It is understood senior Southend and Rochford councillors have met to discuss a possible response to the growing number of objections. Airport managing director Alastair Welch said he was not aware of the consultation results as this had been done by the local authorities. However, he added: “Now the councils’ consultation is over, we will be putting out details of our own in the area. “We have comparisons of the noise contours between 1967, two years ago and how it would be like in 2020 with the runway extension. “These show the levels would be dramatically lower than in 1967 when it was using old and noisy planes like the Bristol Freighter and the Carvair. “In fact, the levels for 2020 with the runway extension and two million passengers per year would be the same as in 1997.” The airport was bought last year for £21million by the Stobart Group, which is famed for its Eddie Stobart lorries brand.
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Echo Report 20th April 2009 – Give us back our evening buses, villagers demand
Campaigners in Hawkwell are pushing for an evening bus service to go through their village. The number 8 bus - which travels from Southend to Rayleigh via Hawkwell - currently stops at 6.30pm. But residents and councillors say it is very difficult for people across the district without cars to get to and from Clements Hall Leisure Centre in Hawkwell. They also say that people from the village cannot get to Southend Hospital in the evenings since the later service stopped in 2002. Campaigners want one of the evening number 7s - which has much the same route but via Hockley and Ashingdon rather than Hawkwell - to run as a number 8 route every hour. They emphasised that they are not calling on Essex County Council for any extra subsidy for the route. Alan James, secretary of Hawkwell Residents’ Association, said: “What we are trying to do is get one of the evening number 7s diverted through Hawkwell. “At present, 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.” Mr James said he wanted a six-month trial of switching one of the evening 7 buses to be an 8. Hockley Residents’ Association also support the proposal. Rochford North county councillor Tracey Chapman said she would support an extra service for Hawkwell and Clements Hall but not if it involved a cut in the number 7 service for people in Ashingdon. She said: “I would not be happy with any service having an adverse impact on current users. “But I will see if there is anything I can do to persuade Arriva and the county council that a new service could be viable.” Since 2002, the number 8 hs stopped running beyond 6.30pm, while the number 7 runs two buses per hour in the evenings. Arriva’s Marketing Manager, Richard Lewis, said “The evening service between Rayleigh, Hockley and Southend is partly funded by Essex County Council and partly operated on a commercial basis at Arriva’s financial risk. “The suggestions put forward for revisions to the service are currently being considered by Essex County Council in conjunction with Arriva.” Recently, the county council decided to subsidise the extension of the number 7 route for one bus an hour during the off-peak period. Following pressure from Hockley residents, it was decided that the number 7 will travel on to Hockley Spa rather than stopping at Ashingdon Schools.
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Echo Report 4th April 2009 – Villagers' victory as council funds extra bus service
People power has led to an extra bus service being laid on for Hockley. Bus operator Arriva had reduced the number of buses running on the number 7 route between the village and Southend from four an hour during the day to just one. Residents reacted furiously and said the service – via Ashingdon – was important, particularly for access to Southend Hospital. A packed public meeting, organised by Hockley Residents’ Association, heard residents’ complaints about the service. Now, the county council has agreed to subsidise the extension of the route for one bus an hour during the off-peak period. It will travel to Hockley Spa rather than stopping at Ashingdon Schools. The amount of financial support will depend on how much it is used and there will be a review after six months. Essex County Council chairman Bonnie Hart, who is also county councillor for Hockley and lives in the village, campaigned for the extra service, supported by Rochford North county councillor Tracey Chapman. Mrs Hart said there was deep concern over the impact the changes had caused. She added: “In particular, it has affected those who use the service to attend local doctors’ appointments, as well as those visiting Southend Hospital.” The service will not begin until June 7 because Arriva will have to register the change with the Government for eight weeks before it can begin. Chairman of Hockley Residents’ Association, Brian Guyett, added: “We are pleased the strength of public opinion has been appreciated by the county council and it is good news this extra bus has been introduced. “I hope the people of the area will take advantage of the service now it is going to be reintroduced.” Mrs Chapman added: “There is going to be a review in six months so the message has to be ‘use it or lose it’.”
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Rochford Farmers Market
Rochford Farmers Market has started again for its ninth year (2009). Rochford Farmers Market is as popular as ever, with a queue of keen shoppers waiting patiently for the doors to open on the first Saturday of every month. Supplies come from within 50 miles of the town. The produce available ranges from beef and poultry to home-made jams and chutneys. Visitors can buy eggs from a local flock, goat's milk and related products, Indian savouries and home made chocolates. Also on offer are herbs, plants and organic gardening information. Fresh vegetables direct from the farm are always one of the most popular stalls with seasonal offerings throughout the year. The market is normally held on the first Saturday of the month in the Women's Institute Hall, Rochford, and runs from March to November 9.30 am 12.30 pm. For more details contact Maureen Vince of the Star Partnership on: 01702 547074. Email: farmersmarket@starpartnership.org
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Belchamps Scout Centre
Children’s Parties
Try something different for your next birthday; we have a wide range of activities for you to choose from, suitable from 6 years old. Choose from bouncy castle, assault course, cork guns, pedal karts, climbing, crate stacking, archery, traversing wall. Also rifle shooting from age 8 plus and for the older age range 10 years plus, 5 different high ropes elements to choose from. All activities last one hour. Add approximately 30 minutes to your party time if you are booking party food. Our activity sessions are for groups of 8 or 12 depending on the activity. If you have more than this number please book two activities per hour. We take bookings Monday to Sunday 9am till 5pm. Please make sure that you have at least one adult to every 3 children for under 8s parties and one adult for every 6 children if it’s for over 8s. For £3.50 a head we provide a party box which contains A large sausage roll, a packet of crisps, box of raisins and a small cake. We cater for vegetarians also. The price per head includes a birthday cake and unlimited squash. Or you can bring your own food and hire a grass area, hall or marquee. Party bags can be provided at £2.50 per head. Activities available include: Climbing, archery, rifle shooting, pedal karts, cork guns, traversing wall, assault course, bouncy castle, pole joust, the leap of faith, crate stacking, high ropes traversing element, high all aboard and Jacobs ladder. Belchamps Scout Centre, Holyoak Lane, Hawkwell, SS5 4JD. Tel: 01702 562690 Email: info@belchamps.co.uk Website: www.belchamps.co.uk .
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SE Essex Organic Gardeners
A grant has been secured to support a series of seminars on organic gardening around the Southend-on-Sea, Rochford, Castle Point and Basildon area in conjunction with Robert Wiseman, local horticultural lecturer, judge and exhibitor. These seminars will start in early 2009 and continue on a regular basis both in the evenings and weekends until 2011. They are designed to encourage the 'growing of your own food' both on an allotment, in your own garden and even on the patio using the principles of organic gardening. The project has been funded by Grassroots Grants from the Office of the Third Sector, which is managed by Essex Community Foundation. The £5.00 fee is for each seminar, which will be approximately 3-3½ hours, either an evening 7-10pm or Saturday 1-4:30. For more information, please contact Robert Wiseman robert.wiseman@talk21.com, or telephone 07941 078135. http://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/
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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 the 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 .
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Clements Hall Shelter
A new shelter provided by Hawkwell Parish Council and supported by your Hawkwell Residents Association has been built at Clements Hall Sports Ground near the replacement skateboard ramp.
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Self Defence
Britka Karate is a professional karate club based in the Southend on Sea area. They run classes in Wado Ryu Karate for children from ages 5 up to adults. They have been running karate classes successfully since 1991 and have classes for beginners and advanced students in the Leigh, Hadleigh, Hawkwell and Shoebury areas. Chief Instructor of Britka karate is Sensei Russell Garrard 4th Dan. For their website click on: Britka Karate
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Bosworth Close Footpath
Bosworth Close footpath to Main Road was resurfaced last year and is now ideal for skaters and skateboarders but your 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) photographed below.
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Magnolia Car Park Graffiti Project
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Astronomy from Rawal Pindi Nursery
Weather permitting, free observing session at the Astronomy Resource Centre, Main Road, Hawkwell from 9pm. Phone Royston Dean on 01702 206244.
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Ashlea Simpson an English lady living in the USA – See 'Good News' Below
Extracts from three emails we have received from Ashlea Simpson an English lady living in Idaho USA. Please Contact Us if you have any information that may help her:
(1) I am wondering whether you know how I might find out if my great-grandmother is buried at Hawkwell Church. She was 84, I think, and her name was Sara Ann Simpson (or Sarah Anne possibly). I used to stay with her at her home in Rochford during the 40's, and I remember going to see her on her deathbed (I lived in Brighton then). I believe I was 7 years old when she died, so that would have been in 1946+/-. I have a photograph of her standing by the front gate with the name of her home on the gate "ASH LEA". If I were in England I could perhaps research this myself but I moved to the US in 1958. I visited Rochford in 1978 and was floored by the changes - houses after houses, so many streetlights, etc. but her home was still standing then, as were the ones on either side. Thank you for any information you may have to help me in finding her final resting place.
(2) I believe my great-grandmother is not buried in the little church at Rochford (built, I believe, by King Canute of the Danes), which was across from the dirt road where she used to live (with the woods at the other end). Her home had the name ASH LEA on the front gate. Like a bungalow with a large front porch and just past her home, right next door, was a brick two-storey house. They were both still standing in the late 1970's. And I'm not certain whether her first name was Sara or Sarah and her middle name Ann or Anne. I'm trying to remember her husband's name and it may have been Albert. Where that dirt road met the main road (by a pub across from a farm and the "Canute" church, we would turn right onto the main road by the newsagent/tobacconist's shop and the vicarage on the other side of the main road, and walk quite a way and then turn right again down a road to another churchyard - possibly Hawkwell Church? This is going back 60+ years so I don't recall the names of the roads, unfortunately. I will try to dig out some more information but not sure of my chances. I think that buried somewhere here I may still have an Easter postcard mailed from my grandmother to my great-grandmother which may give a clue as to her address.
(3) I have now found out my great-grandmother's husband's name was Christopher (not Albert). Perhaps he is buried in the same churchyard as she is. I unearthed a letter from my mother dated June 21, 1982, with lots of family info but nothing re the correct spelling of my great-grandmother's first two names.
Good News
One of our local residents has now located Ashlea's great-grandmother's grave in Saint Mary's Churchyard in Hawkwell after reading our news item. From a list of graves we found that three Simpson are buried there. Sarah Ann Simpson died age 86 in 1947 is in grave 1149, John Thomas Simpson died age 53 in 2000 is in grave 2023 and Christopher Thomas Simpson died age 70 in 1925 is in grave 699 (U/K). We sent Ashlea some photos of the churchyard and Sarah's and John's graves. Unfortunately Sarah's husband Christopher's grave is unknown (U/K), which means it is in the graveyard but as it is unmarked (no grave stone) they cannot find it. As John has the middle name Thomas I believe he may be a relative and as he died age only 53 in year 2000 there are probably more relatives living in the Rochford area. If you have any information for Ashlea please let us know via Contact Us. I have included extracts from Ashlea's emails of thanks below:
This is a wonderful surprise. Only yesterday I was wondering if any records had been found about my great-grandmother and I also came across our previous emails. It's sad that I had no knowledge of John Thomas Simpson as he died so recently and it would have been wonderful if I'd had the opportunity to meet him; he was born only 8 years after I was. I have no idea whose son he was, which is a shame. Thank you so very, very much for including my inquiry in your news item, and please do convey to the resident who took the time to locate these graves my very deepest gratitude. That was an extremely generous thing for them to do for a total stranger. I have looked at all the wonderful photos you have been so very kind to send me. I want to thank you or whoever took all these photos for me it was so very, very kind. What a beautiful church - makes me so homesick. I do remember going to visit the grave with my grandmother some short time after my great-grandmother was buried there. I will treasure all of these and, of course, make prints of them. Please be sure to thank everyone involved, including yourself, for finding out all this information and going the extra mile for me. This has been like a journey back to a gentler time. Ashlea
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BEES IN AUTUMN
By David Blackwood our bee keeping committee member.
I have been asked to write something for the Hawkwell Residents Association website about bees. It is thought that I ought to know something about them as I have been keeping honeybees for many years and I am the honorary secretary of the Southend-on-Sea and District division of the Essex Beekeepers Association. Of course this is such a large subject that no one knows everything there is to know about bees.
By the time you read this Newsletter the beekeeping season will be practically over. All species of bees will have made their preparations for the coming winter. Yes I say species, because there are some approximately 230 different species and sub-species of bees in Britain. Ranging in size from very small 3-4mm solitary bees to the largest of queen bumblebees of nearly 2 inches (50cm).
The majority of bees that you will see in your garden are the bumblebees. These are round, furry insects that vary in size and colouration. A young mated queen comes out of hibernation from a hole in the soil in late January or early February, and this depends on the actual species of bumblebee and the weather. She looks around for a place to make her nest and as she is not capable of collecting nesting material herself like a bird does, so she looks elsewhere. Often she will choose a compost heap, a discarded bird’s nest or an old mouse’s nest, somewhere nice and cosy. She goes foraging to collect nectar and pollen for her own consumption and to take back to the nest. In the nest she constructs a heap of mixed pollen and nectar and lays eggs on it. This she covers with wax from her wax glands and with wax she also constructs a honey pot in which she stores nectar for a rainy day when she cannot get out to forage. After between 4-6 days the eggs hatch into larvae and they eat the food that mother has been placed underneath them. After another period during which they grow by shedding their ‘skin’ several times they spin a substantial cocoon of silk in an upright position. After about two weeks the adult workers begin to cut their way out of their cocoons using their mandibles. According to one source of information it takes about 5 weeks from an egg being laid to the emergence of an adult bumblebee from the pupal cocoon. Now the solitary existence of the queen is at an end and she has help with foraging and the looking after other larvae.
The colony develops with the queen foraging less as there are daughters to do this work Some species can build up to about 100 workers all working for the good of the colony. Later in the year eggs are laid that develop into males and future virgin queens. The males when they emerge from their cocoons spend about four days in the nest maturing and when they leave the nest it is considered that they never return to it. They patrol an area leaving a scent trail on vegetation and when a young virgin strays into their territory she is pounced upon and mating takes place on the ground or other flat surface. When young virgins emerge from their cocoons they mature and then go out to forage returning back to the nest at nightfall.
These young virgins soon meet up with their male counterparts and mate. Once mated these queens continue to forage for pollen and nectar, which they break down internally into chemicals for storage in their fat bodies in preparation for hibernation during the winter. The young mated queen then digs a small hole in the soil and lining it with a solution from her Dufoss gland and salvia settles down to ‘sleep’ through the winter. Her metabolism slows right down and because of the chemicals in her body that act as an antifreeze she is able to withstand very cold temperatures. When the weather warms up in the spring she comes out of hibernation and the life cycle starts all over again.
There are 23 different bumblebees in Britain; of these 6 are cuckoo species whose queens take over a different bee species nest similar to the cuckoo bird. But it is the cuckoo queen that kills the rightful queen. The cuckoo queen does not lay eggs that develop into workers, only males and future queens. The workers of the rightful queen look after the usurper’s eggs and larvae.
There are six main species of bees that are found in your garden, and they are Bombus lapidarius (Large red tailed bumble bee, black with a brick red tail); B. terrestris (Buff tailed BB with yellow bands and buff tail); B. lucorum (Common white tailed BB yellow bands and white tail); B. hortorum (Common garden BB with three yellow bands and white tail); B. pratorum (Meadow BB yellow bands and red tail); and B. pascourum (Common Carder Bee dark or light brown BB). As I wrote in the beginning all of these species should have completed their life cycle by the time you read this article.
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MISSING ROAD SIGNS
Missing and confusing road signs have been sorted out with new signs installed by Rocford District Council after requests to us from our members.
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SINGLE OCCUPIER COUNCIL TAX DISCOUNT
Did you know that if you are the only person aged 18 or over living in your property, you may be entitled to a 25% reduction in your Council Tax, see RDC Single Occupier Council Tax Information. You will need to complete an application form, available from the Revenues & Benefits Office. This information has been obtained from the Rochford District Council website.
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Glencroft entrance gate modified by Hawkell Parish Council to prevent horses entering.
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The new gates from Park Gardens to Clements Hall playground and car park installed by Rochford Council. This installation was carried out after numerous complaints from people living close by experiencing motorbikes racing through these entrances at all hours.
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The new access from Hawkwell Park Drive to Clements Hall grounds installed by Rochford Council. This gate was previously widened to allow the disabled better access as unfortunately one driver fell from his mobility scooter here.
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