Undermining Strategic Commitments to the Upper Roach Valley

Written by

Co-Chair of Save Mount Bovers Community Group

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20 responses

I recently read about concerns over the District’s housing targets in a newsletter from Rochford District Conservatives Group and how they would like to see Rochford District’s Councillors “put up a fight for our locals”.

Having recently emailed all District Councillors regarding my concerns over the proposed development at Mount Bovers, I received very little response from Conservative Councillors and therefore cannot help but feel much of the sentiment in the newsletter is disingenuous.

The new Conservative Council leader, Cllr Danielle Belton, now has the opportunity to defend the Council’s policies and uphold the designation awarded to the Upper Roach Valley, backed-up with evidence from the Rochford District Council & Southend Borough Council Landscape Character, Sensitivity & Capacity Study (2020 ).

Protecting Our Green Lung: Core Strategy Policies

Numerous sites are being proposed for development — the vast majority of which lay outside the Upper Roach Valley.

To my mind it’s quite simple; defend the URV1 and ELA3 policies — the Council’s Core Strategy — which commit to protecting and enhancing the Upper Roach Valley as a vital “green lung.”

These policies were adopted as essential pillars of sustainable development — not optional extras. Their aim was not only to safeguard ancient woodlands and landscape but to improve access for the whole community through a connected network of footpaths, bridleways, cycle routes, and wildlife corridors.

A Valued Community Asset

This Council’s “Vision statement” for the Spatial Options consultation said: In 2050, Hockley and Hawkwell should be the District’s gateway to the green lung of the Upper Roach Valley, making the most of its access to ancient woodland and a network of nature reserves.

Yet, the current consideration of development at Mount Bovers directly undermines this stated vision. This isn’t just used by local residents — the area supports walking groups, runners, horse riders, and long-distance trail users, including along the well-known Saffron Trail. It’s a valued community asset in constant use.

Yet now, with no up-to-date Local Plan and housing targets nearly doubling, development is being actively considered in this very area.

The Peril of Precedent

As stated in my email to Councillors:
if the Upper Roach Valley boundary were to be compromised in favour of urban development this would not only establish a precedent this would send a clear signal that the Upper Roach Valley boundary has no strategic importance or value to Rochford District Council and the remainder would become vulnerable to the same treatment.

AI-generated impression of housing development

There appears to be no point of long-standing environmental and community protections if they can be abandoned the moment external pressures mount.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Comments

20 responses to “Undermining Strategic Commitments to the Upper Roach Valley”

9 June 2025

Tanya Artus

I have been walking in this area and enjoying the natural landscape since I was a child. It is an integral part of my personal history and my connection to the local environment. To see this beautiful and ecologically rich area under threat from urban development is profoundly distressing.

This land is not simply an unused space — it is a valued community asset that supports the health and wellbeing of countless local residents. I regularly witness the area being enjoyed by walkers, runners, horse riders, families, and those seeking the restorative benefits of nature.

The importance of access to green spaces for physical and mental health is well established. Studies show that regular contact with natural environments can:
✅ Reduce stress and anxiety (Bratman et al., 2019)
✅ Improve mood and cognitive function (White et al., 2019)
✅ Encourage physical activity and reduce risk of chronic disease (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018)

In a time when rates of mental health issues are rising, particularly in urban areas, it is short-sighted to deprive communities of the very spaces that help support resilience and wellbeing.

Equally concerning is the impact on local wildlife and habitats. The Mount Bovers area provides a crucial refuge for a variety of species, many of which are increasingly squeezed by ongoing urbanisation. We have a responsibility to protect these natural ecosystems, not further encroach upon them.

The current proposal represents a shocking breach of Green Belt land, and one that risks setting a damaging precedent. As others have rightly pointed out, if the Upper Roach Valley boundary were to be compromised for urban development, it would send a clear signal that this strategic landscape is no longer valued or protected by Rochford District Council. This would leave the remainder of the valley — and other cherished green spaces — similarly vulnerable.

In a district that is already becoming over-urbanised, it is essential to balance housing needs with the equally vital need to preserve public access to nature, protect wildlife, and safeguard the health of the local community.

I urge the Council to uphold its stated vision for protecting green spaces and to reject this proposal in the strongest terms.

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8 June 2025

Annie

This is such a lovely place, I have lived here all my life. I use the footpath all the time to walk my dog. Especially for teenagers like me, it is a wonderful place for our mental health and wellbeing. It is such a shame it could be taken away from us.

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6 June 2025

Pat Harle

This lovely area of green belt and surrounding woodland is vital to our community as a whole ,not just the residents directly affected near to it.
Its host to numerous species of wildlife and key to the wellbeing of thousands of people who walk, cycle, exercise and use it for their hobbies.
Yet again a housing company wants to spoil this to benefit their profits having no regard to extra traffic, congestion , more pollution and strain on public services, schools, dentists and doctors surgeries.
I dont disagree that housing is needed, as are jobs and more tax payers but as usual its the choice of location.
Why not use brownbelt locations and properly invest in local infrastructure!
Bloors got away with it on the Ashingdon road development but a rubust opposition was mounted which certainly delayed it, got plenty of news coverage and held RDC to account!
My main observation having taken an active part in it was albeit we had plenty of support from the local community, we lacked actual numbers on the final days when it counted. As has been highlighted already, numbers do count.
I firmly believe that if we had more support on the day they came to fell the Oak tree ,we could have stopped them.

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5 June 2025

Jo Paic

I often come over to Mount Bovers and walk through this field into the woods. It is truly magical place and it would be a tragedy for the local wildlife and the local residents if it was built on. We have close friends who live on Mount Bovers and their family would be hugely impacted by the proposed development. I have seen the plans for the proposed ‘school’ and it is not really a school at all. Just a token gesture building to help get planning through: no recreation area for the children and inadequate parking. Clearly the developers are using this as a mere tick box exercise.
This green lung should be protected for all to enjoy.

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4 June 2025

Nikki

It is devastating to hear that there is a possible proposal to wipe out yet more green belt land. This is a stunning area which isn’t an empty unused field – it is used for walkers and cyclists and a major help with wellbeing and health. Abundant with wildlife too. The area is already busy with traffic so just imagine how gridlocked it would be with yet more cars. Schools and GPs are already full to the brim.
The AI picture paints a worrying vision and I believe a wider lens would show the impact this would have on ruining a naturally beautiful area.

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4 June 2025

Roy Williams

It is hard to believe that this is a serious proposal – yet here we are as a community desperately worried that our local Councils will not now defend their own policies.

URV1 and ELA3 are not just any old run-of-the-mill political policies. They are enlightened, forward-thinking, based on fact, especially so in their regard for, and strong reference to, environmental issues as summed up well by the vital “Green Lung”.

The latest scientific reports on World Climate and the point of no return are grim indeed. One of the many things we need to be doing NOW , as championed by the WWF, is Re-Wilding but here we are having to fight against yet more concrete being poured all over what remains of our vital green belt farmers land.
(I used to think farmers grew vital food for us and as such were hugely respected in the community- how naive of me. I do wonder if media owners, those in power, those with high wealth/influence etc realise that the end of the planet will be the same for them as for everybody else).

Time is running out. When one thinks of the stakes the rejection of this planning application should be a simple exercise.

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4 June 2025

Richard Pryor

Very well written piece, spot on, and the AI photo is the thin end of the wedge. There are two building companies with interest on those fields. If the first application is approved the second company will follow on with phase 2. This assault on our Green Belt has to be stopped. Our Parish Councillors need to step up to the responsibility their positions hold and start building those Neighbourhood plans. District councillors must stop playing politics with our Green Belt. This area is vital for the health, physical and emotional, of our local residents. The additional traffic congestion and pollution, the destruction of the habitats in the field. There are so many reasons this should not go ahead. As soon as the formal application is submitted the community must unite in their collective objections :

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4 June 2025

Victoria McKay

An extremely well written & thorough account of how detrimental & terribly sad this will be for the area; which is already hugely compromised with general daily traffic. It is unimaginable how this many houses will impact all local resources, without even considering the effect it will have on wildlife & mental health. The youth also need to be considered- in a tech world they are sadly growing up in, they will no longer have anywhere to ride their bikes or walk their dogs. This really needs so much more consideration.

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4 June 2025

Sarah Taylor

Wow that image you created sadly brings it home the damage this development will cause to our community and not forgetting the amazing wildlife we are fortunate to have on our doorsteps.
This beautiful open space is used by many different sections of people many of whom travel from outside the area to enjoy it .

Mount Bovers helped my recovery from gruelling chemotherapy treatment and was my inspiration to get out and heal by simply walking through the field, listening to the birds and enjoying the amazing views when you make it to the bench. This must be stopped 🙏🏻

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4 June 2025

Judith Clark

The field along Mount Bovers is the start of a large expanse of beautiful countryside, where many people of all ages can enjoy the peace and tranquility that it brings.
To lose even a slice of this would be a great loss to the community, harmful to plants and wildlife and increase the stresses on the area regarding pollution, over crowding and transport.

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4 June 2025

Deborah

The AI image just doesn’t bear thinking about. The complete disregard of the wildlife of which, particularly in the area of Mount Bovers, is in abundance, and not forgetting the mental health of residents who enjoy the beauty and peace of the area, is horrendous.
I have also noticed the lack of voices from Rochford Council which seems to go against everything they put in print

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4 June 2025

Mick Heal

The solitude and peacefulness that washes over you when walking or indeed just sitting here is incredibly moving. It’s a place where many local folks go to walk and take in the sights and sounds of the wildlife that lives here. Mount Bovers has a place in the hearts of local people and visitors alike.
But now it’s time that we give back some of what this place has given those that have visited here. It’s time for us to stand and stop the development of our space, our place of peace and solitude, to stop the destruction of our wildlife. Join our community in the fight to save Mount Bovers and object to Rochford District Council and the government.
We must defend our countryside for future generations if it goes it is gone forever.

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4 June 2025

Russ Freeman

Great article, the AI shot is a good example of how a haven for endangered wildlife will be turned into urban sprawl. Unfortunately an image will never capture the sound experience of escaping work and walking through a tranquil path hearing the sounds of skylarks and other wild life.

The road passing Mount Bovers is already busy and has cost the life of Badgers and foxes and Munjacs to name a few, adding another 700+ cars to this will only make things worse. The air quality in the environment is also not good, my wife is a midwife and has noted that most women around this area are scoring on the higher end of normal for CO2 levels just under the danger zone pregnant women

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4 June 2025

Nick H

I have received many comments about “nimbyism” reminding me that our house was once farmland. Of course this is true but there is a much bigger picture here. When I first heard of the plans I thought “well it’s a farmer’s field and he’s entitled to do what he pleases with it.” I then realised it’s so much more than just a field. It’s more like a recreation ground used by so many for so many different reasons.

I wouldn’t necessarily know a skylark if one landed on my head and am not a botanist but the simple pleasure I get from walking across Mount Bovis is enough for me and many others. Thank you Leigh for all your time and continued hard work. Hopefully sense will prevail.

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4 June 2025

Gail Shorney

It’s June 2025. Our district councillors have the perfect opportunity to act and show their residents that they are representing us and everything that is dear to our area. Now is the time for action, not empty words and playing politics.
Our green belt, our countryside, our village with an already heavily burdened infrastructure, is in the epicentre of a perfect storm of reduced environmental protections, government legislations which are essentially licenses to destroy nature and a worrying lack of vision from the government, coupled with woefully inadequate parish council procedures.
As individuals within a community, we need to realise that we can empower ourselves to make a difference.
It’s synergistic – when we work together as a community with the same goal we are stronger.
And that is what we will do.

For our wildlife
For our community
For our future

It’s not about planting some trees down the road to counter balance the development
Nor carbon offsetting
Nor adding bug hotels as a sweetener
It’s about saving what we have right now!

Because once it’s gone, it’s gone

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4 June 2025

Julie Gooding

It is absolutely vital that we retain our Greenbelt and open spaces to ensure continued access to outdoor leisure activities such as walking, running, cycling, and horse riding. These activities are not only immensely popular in this area but are also essential for reducing stress and improving mental and physical wellbeing.

This location, known as the Green Lung, plays a crucial role in supporting healthy, active lifestyles and fostering a strong connection to nature within our community.

Even the Council’s own Vision for the Spatial Options consultation acknowledged this value, stating:

“In 2050, Hockley and Hawkwell should be the District’s gateway to the green lung of the Upper Roach Valley, making the most of its access to ancient woodland and a network of nature reserves.”

I fully support this vision and strongly believe that these accessible green spaces must be protected—not just for us today, but for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.

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4 June 2025

Zoe

This is so helpful to see how this would look. It’s also sad to witness that the trust has eroded among the residents and their representatives on the council. I understand the job they’re doing is hard, but their misrepresentation isn’t going to serve them or their community in the long run. Their total lack of holding the developers in the area accountable for building much-needed and promised infrastructure is also a crystal clear message to the residents.

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4 June 2025

David Baker

The “After” AI image captures the sorry state that this piece of land will endure .
Nature and much of people’s social, domestic and business livelihoods will be severely compromised.

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4 June 2025

David Baker

A fantastic written piece which captures the whole essence of what so many local feel about the “proposed development”.
The area is used extensively for recreation and the animal life there is abundant.
So many reasons NOT TO BUILD which have been succinctly and cleverly written in the above article …..

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4 June 2025

Julie Thorogood

Mount Bovers and the surrounding area of the upper roach valley with adjoining ancient woodlands is a stunning beautiful area in which we are lucky to live near. Thriving with wildlife and natural beauty, it must be protected at all costs.

I have lived in Hawkwell and Hockley most of my life this is our sanctuary for peace and harmony with nature. It would be criminal to see this landscape changed forever.

Which will have a devastating impact to our wildlife and mental health for nothing but pure greed!

Big concern regarding the B1013 road, congestion and safety, schools, doctors and hospital, with no infrastructure in place this building application is absolute madness.

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