How the West Won: Housing Money and School Gains While the East Snoozes

While some parts of Rochford District have been coasting on autopilot, the West has quietly been pulling in serious cash – and children here are reaping the rewards. Thanks to significant housing development and the associated Section 106 (S106) contributions, the west of the district are seeing tangible benefits in education funding. Meanwhile, in the East? Well, let’s just say the Tory councillors over there seem to be more interested in dusting off their committee chairs than fighting for their communities.

Let’s look at the numbers.

From developments along Ashingdon Road, we’ve already received over £2.6 million (£2,618,552.91) with an additional £751,805.55 anticipated. That’s a total of £3.37 million from just one location – and yes, that’s not even counting the interest already added: a tidy £36,649.75. These funds are earmarked specifically for education – think school expansions, classroom improvements, and support services.

Other eastern sites have chipped in too:

• Alexandra Road (3–45): £127,943.65 + £3,552.10 interest
• Little Wakering Road and Barrow Hall Road: £15,322.68 + £487.92 interest

In the West we've also had a contribution: 

Add it all up, and you’re looking at over £3.7 million in S106 contributions so far – all to support education. That’s not theory, that’s cold hard cash.

So, what’s happening in the East? Not a lot.

In places like Great Wakering and beyond, the housing’s been just as controversial, but where’s the payoff? The Tory councillors who’ve held these areas for decades seem more focused on rubber-stamping decisions than pushing for fair shares of development money. There’s little sign of strategic thinking or active campaigning to secure funds for local schools. It’s as if they expect County and District officers to do the legwork for them – and guess what? They don’t.

By contrast, the West has seen real results because councillors (and residents) have demanded accountability. We’ve insisted that developers cough up meaningful S106 contributions. We’ve monitored delivery. We’ve pressed for transparency. And the proof is in the funding totals.

Education shouldn’t be a postcode lottery, but when one side of the district is asleep at the wheel, children lose out. Schools in the West are far from perfect, but they’re being supported through planned investment, thanks to active local leadership. If Eastern wards want the same, they’ll need to swap out councillors who think being a Tory means never challenging the status quo.

So next time someone from the East starts whingeing about school places or lack of funding, maybe ask: “What has your councillor actually done to get S106 cash into local education?” Because while they’ve been spinning their wheels, the West has been busy cashing in – and building a better future for its kids.