Residents of the “Unmade End” of Thorpe Road. Hawkwell have suffered so much damage to the road surface that they have issued an Open Letter of Complaint to David Wilson Homes/Barratts at their Clements Gate (Christmas Tree Farm) Site.
We hope that Barratts will now listen to the these residents and put things right immediately.
Street Light Re-location in Rectory Road
Rochford District Council has also issued the following by email.
“Dear Councillor
It was apparent that the lamp columns along Rectory Road, which were required to be repositioned off of the footpath, had been installed by the power utilities company in the wrong place. They have been instructed accordingly and will put right their error.”
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road

Development Committee was busy this week particularly for your Hawkwell West Councillors, John and Christine Mason, as two applications that affect our Ward were up for consideration. These were both for alterations to Conditions for the Housing Estate that is currently being built. Despite the developer receiving full, detailed approval in Dec 2012 our Officers seem to be constantly having to work on proposed alterations.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road

A Brief Update
As ever your Ward Councillors, John and Christine Mason, have been busy dealing with issues and complaints and following a really helpful meeting with two of ECC engineers we are able to report the following;
- Two badly damaged areas in Thorpe Road pavement are to receive a temporary a repair today, 30 January, and discussions will be taking place next week regarding more permanent remedial works.
- The fence erected blocking a neighbour’s driveway is to be moved.
- The damaged section of Thorpe Road carriageway is to be inspected with a view to a satisfactory reinstatement of the road surface.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road
Reported in the Echo 6 December 2013
Update on our Article, Thorpe Road Closure with less than 24 hrs Notice
A FOOTPATH which was closed,leaving residents with a half-mile detour to reach village amenities looks set to be reopened by Christmas.
The path at the unmade end of Thorpe Road, Hockley, was shut unexpectedly in October, as part of a development for 175 homes in the village.
The closure meant residents had to walk half-a-mile along narrow pavements on Main Road or Rectory Road to reach shops, a doctor’s surgery and Greensward and Westerings schools. At the time, the move left residents angry at the lack of communication from developers David Wilson Homes, who had told residents the path wouldn’t be shut and access would be maintained at all times.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell NewsTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
environment agency,
estate agents office in residential zone,
flooding hawkwell,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
rectory road hawkwell flooding,
riparian owner,
riparian rights,
river roach,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
sewerage,
spencers,
storm,
street naming,
surface water drainage,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road,
water courses,
watercourse
Hawkwell Brook Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December
As featured in the ECHO DIY Flood Plan
No one told us how physically hard flood prevention would be. John and I ache in muscles that “we did not know that we had and probably have not got”! (Christine was heard saying “Charlie Dimmock I am not. (Certainly John is not!)) That said it is a lot cheaper and more rewarding than the gym.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
environment agency,
estate agents office in residential zone,
flooding hawkwell,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
rectory road hawkwell flooding,
riparian owner,
riparian rights,
river roach,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
sewerage,
spencers,
storm,
street naming,
surface water drainage,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road,
water courses,
watercourse
We returned home from our annual family holiday to find that David Wilson Homes (Barratts) had not ceased to use Thorpe Road for access of HGV Construction Traffic from the end of October.
Complaint to the Managing Director, David Wilson Homes (Barratts)
Dear Mr. Eardley
Several weeks ago Mr. Ruffy advised me personally, face to face, that HGV Construction Traffic would cease to use Thorpe Road from the end of October.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road
This was permitted by Essex County Council with less than 24 hours Notice against promises that footpath access would never be closed for more than a few days at a time.
Closure of the footpath along the unmade end of Thorpe Road, Hawkwell.
“I am writing on behalf of Barratt Developments to let you know that due to safety reasons, Thorpe Road will be closed to pedestrians as from 10:00am tomorrow (23/10) until further notice.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road

Clements Gate Development
A brief summary of where we are now with this development and other local issues.
Signs and Advertising
No more progress or information on the simple request for a ‘residents only parking sign’. However David Wilson Homes have applied for permission for some of the signage at the Thorpe Road Marketing suite and although our last information on a site visit was that the application did not reflect what was on the ground the RDC Planning Officer was attempting to resolve this so that the retrospective application can be heard by the Development Committee on the 24th October. As far as we are aware there has been no application for the flagpoles and advertisements at Clements Hall Way although I believe this has been ‘requested’ by Officers.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road

The Echo published an Article today headed “Hawkwell homes “out of our reach”.
You can read it here.
We have approximately 600 registrations on the Council’s Housing Register in a hierarchy of bands that are eligible for housing in our District.
We hoped that the 35% Affordable Homes, presumably sold at rock bottom prices to Registered Social Landlords (RSL), would enable some of those residents that are on the Rochford District Council Housing Register to be housed at last.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
Planning News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road

Clements Gate Development
A brief summary of where we are now with this development and other local issues; Flooding, Noise & Pollution, Highways and Parking
Signs and Advertising
Residents in the unmade section of Thorpe Road have still not achieved success in the simple request for a ‘residents only parking sign’ yet David Wilson Homes appear to be able to erect as many signs as they want without Highways permission from Essex County Council or compliance with advertising regulations. David Wilson Homes and Barratts have now applied again for retrospective planning for the signs around the Show Homes and the greater number of flagpoles than normally allowed around the whole site. On the day the original application was to be heard, (Officers had recommended Refusal) the application was withdrawn. The new retrospective planning application should be heard in October and we hope to visit residents for your views once we have reviewed the position with Officers.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road
By John Mason
A resident and I were talking in the street yesterday morning and during the conversation they expressed their shock and surprise at the amount of advertising material that had been allowed at Clements Gate.

Advertising in Thorpe Road, 25 July 2013
I explained that this did not actually have permission because the planning application had been withdrawn by the applicant on the day that the planning application was to be determined at Development Committee the previous day, Thursday 25th July.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road

We are pleased to advise you that as Ward Members we have been involved in a process of sifting and approving Street Names for the Christmas Tree Farm Development.
The Developer has been informed on the decisions made.
We put forward Aaron Lewis Close to mark the life and sacrifice of Lieutenant Aaron Lewis, from Rectory Avenue in Hawkwell Parish who died while serving with the 29 Commando Regiment of the Royal Artillery, in the Gereshk area of Helmand Province, in December 2008.
His family approved the suggestion made by Ward Members, Christine and John Mason.
Filed Under:
Hawkwell News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road

Despite our recent experiences with Planning Conditions on the David Wilson Homes/Barratts planning permission not all the results of our negotiations are negative.
With the David Wilson Homes/Barratts development there was even the potential of Community benefits through a Public Open Space if Rochford District Council, Hawkwell Parish Council, and The Hawkwell Residents Association had the same vision as ourselves, HAG and CTFDAG. A Private Open Space isolated from the Spencers Park Open Space, which is owned by Hawkwell Parish Council, is not a Community benefit. We negotiated for the provision of a bridge to join the two spaces, to be paid for by the developer but as permission by Hawkwell Parish Council was refused this cannot go ahead. So there are no benefits there which seems hardly reasonable given the loss of greenbelt.
Filed Under:
Planning News,
slidesTagged:
affordable housing,
Barratt Eastern Counties,
barratts,
buffer zone,
business rates,
christmas tree farm,
clements gate,
Clements Gate;Hawkwell,
clements hall,
clements hall way,
community benefit,
CTFDAG,
David Wilson Homes,
Development,
estate agents office in residential zone,
greenbelt,
HAG,
Hawkwell,
Hawkwell Action Group,
Hawkwell Focus,
Hawkwell Parish Council,
hawkwell residents,
hawkwell residents association,
hawkwell west,
housing development,
HRA,
independent councillor,
John Mason,
local authorities,
Meeting Place Communications,
MPC,
nddr,
new homes,
new homes bonus,
paddocks,
Planning,
planning permission,
private open space,
public open space,
rectory road,
Rochford District Council,
Rochford District Residents,
sales and marketing,
spencers,
street naming,
tangible benefit,
The Christmas Tree Farm Development Action Group,
thorpe road