Calling local voluntary groups, charities and businesses!

14 January 2018

Rochford District Council’s annual Wild Woods Family Fun Day at Hockley Woods is taking place this year on Saturday 20 July 2019, sponsored by Fusion Lifestyle.

The council are offering voluntary and charitable organisations, artists, designers and craftspeople and businesses, the opportunity to have a market stall at the event to support the Wild Woods Day focus of recycling, sustainability and protecting the local environment. Organisations that produce up-cycled arts and crafts, organic goods, or promote green and healthy living are just some examples of the kind of stalls the council would like to attract to the event.

The cost to hire a market stall for voluntary and charitable organisations is £20, Artists, Designers and Craftspeople £25, and for businesses to £30 - this includes your own market stall and cover.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Community, Cllr Mike Webb said: Wild Woods Day is always a great day for families to get together and have fun, it is the council’s biggest event of the year.  This hugely popular occasion regularly attracts over 3000 visitors, who come to celebrate the beautiful surroundings of Hockley Woods. It is a great chance for local traders to promote their organisation, business or club to thousands of prospective new customers/members”.

For more information or to book your stall please contact Rochford District Council’s Leisure and Cultural Services Team via leisure@rochford.gov.uk or call 01702 318120. Please note that there is a limited amount of stalls available therefore if you would like a stall it would be best to get in touch as soon as possible.

Even if you don’t want to be a part of the Marketplace, be sure to put the date in your diary and come and join us for one of the most popular events in the district’s calendar.

Council devises programme for future of its key assets

11 January 2019

An innovative programme which seeks to re-develop Rochford District Council’s key assets will be discussed by Councillors this month.

The proposals, to be considered by the Council’s Investment Board on January 16, anticipate a reduction of future costs in excess of £300,000 a year through the regeneration of six of its strategic sites.

The authority has worked with technical experts to draw up an ‘Outline Business Case’ which seeks to regenerate the Rochford District by improving the local area and facilities for residents and businesses, reduce future costs and generate revenue income streams.

This work revealed the scenario which would meet these objectives most closely would be to refurbish and extend the Freight House, in Rochford, to give this location a new lease of life in providing modern, more efficient offices for Council staff and partners, as well as a Chamber for Council meetings and a community space.

This would enable the Civic Suite, in Rayleigh, where Council meetings are currently held, to be re-developed for residential purposes or alternative use. It is further proposed that the Mill Arts & Events Centre, Rayleigh, would be re-developed with a suitable proportion of the ground floor retained for Council and community uses. The programme would also see the Council’s main offices in South Street, Rochford, re-developed for residential purposes or alternative use and numbers 19 and 57, South Street, re-developed for residential purposes to help meet the local housing need.

A robust analysis revealed the proposed programme would be more cost-efficient than continuing to operate the existing buildings in their current form due to their age and the need for significant investment to continue to maintain them in future.

When considering disposal of assets the Council would explore, on a site by site basis as part of the market engagement process, the potential for sites to be disposed of on a non-encumbered long lease or freehold arrangement.

The proposals are at an early stage, with a report to Investment Board proposing that a recommendation is made to Full Council for the approval of the Outline Business Case, with the authority proceeding to the procurement of a development partner. Following the procurement stage, a full business case would be completed with more detailed proposals for the key sites.

It is anticipated that the project would be completed by 2023, an indicative timeline which would be kept under review. Members of the public and stakeholders would be engaged with throughout the process. All facilities within the programme remain open at this time and both the Freight House and The Mill Arts And Events Centre continue to take bookings.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Cllr George Ioannou, said: "It makes sense for Rochford District Council to review its assets, not only from a financial perspective, but also to ensure we are seeking opportunities to regenerate and revitalise the local area to the benefit of our residents and businesses.

"Therefore, we engaged the services of technical experts to undertake a robust analysis of our six strategic sites, working closely with Councillors and Council officers to meet our objectives.

"The resulting Outline Business Case offers an opportunity to reinvigorate the Rochford District by re-developing these key sites, while also saving in excess of £300,000 a year by reducing our future costs. This case will now be taken to the Investment Board for consideration on January 16."

Cherry Orchard Car Park Closure

4 January 2019

Rochford District Council will be closing Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country park car park from 7 January – 18 February 2019 for essential maintenance work.

During the works, there will be no access for any vehicles belonging to the general public. Please note that pedestrian access is unaffected by the closure.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused whilst this work is carried out.

Please check our website and social media accounts for updates.

CHAIRMAN’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE

28 December 2018

This is the time of year when we look back on the events of 2018 and look forward to the New Year ahead. Since becoming Chairman of Rochford District Council in May 2018, I have had the pleasure of meeting many local residents and organisations, all working hard and making a difference locally.  

I have attended the Senior Safety Roadshow in Great Wakering in June, an event which provided advice for residents over the age of 55 on staying healthy and safe.  I was pleased to be present at this year’s Kirste 5 Memorial Races in Rayleigh in July and was delighted to be asked to present the medals to participants at the end.  I heard music from schools in this district, schools which were performing as part of the Junior Schools’ Music Festival held in June, and I joined local guides and scouts at their respective award evenings.  I was pleased to attend the re-openings of local businesses in this area following their refurbishments, such as the Anne Boleyn public house in Rochford and the Travellers Joy public house in Rayleigh and I was present at the start of this year’s Foulness Bike Ride in September.

As Chairman, I have also had the honour of representing this District further afield in other parts of Essex, promoting our own part of the County. One of the highlights of the year has been the part the district has played in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War. I was not only honoured to attend the Remembrance Sunday service this year but was very proud to see the impact of the Rochford Tommies silhouettes, which had an amazing response as they toured all areas of the district. This really is an experience I will never forget. 

In 2019, I look forward to seeing, at first hand, more of the successes residents and businesses alike can achieve.  I would be delighted to share and celebrate your achievements with you so if you would like to invite me to your event, please contact the Civic Officer by email at   civic.officer@rochford.gov.uk.

I wish you a happy, prosperous and healthy 2019.

Cllr David Merrick    Chairman of Rochford District Council

Rochford District Council tops the recycling table again!

18 December 2018

Rochford District Council would like to thank residents for continuing to be green following the announcement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which monitors waste and recycling figures.

Statistics released by DEFRA placed Rochford joint second in the league with a recycling rate of 63 per cent out of more than 350 local authorities across England. It means that residents across the Rochford District continue to be enthusiastic about recycling and ensuring as little goes to landfill as possible, meaning a greener future for all.

Since 2008, Rochford has gone from being one of the lowest performing local authorities in the country on recycling, with a rate of under 20 per cent, to one of the best, and it’s all because of the commitment shown by residents to recycling as much as possible.

This success has been due to residents embracing the simple ‘three bin’ system – with one bin for non-recyclables, one for recyclables and one for compostables.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Councillor Arthur Williams, said: ““I want to say a big thank you to our residents for their continued support of our recycling schemes, because they are the main reason why we continue to attain such high results. This achievement is a reflection of the simple but effective three bin system that makes it as easy as possible to recycle. I would also like to thank the council’s waste and recycling staff and waste contractor SUEZ  who do a fantastic job”.

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