Residents in Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea, and West Clacton and Jaywick Sands are one step closer to having their own local town and village councils following strong public support during a recent consultation.
The Tendring District Council has spent the past several months asking people in these three areas whether they want to establish their own local governing bodies. These communities are currently the only ones in the district that do not have their own parish or town-level representation.
The latest round of feedback, which concluded in February 2026, saw high levels of public support for the plans. In Clacton-on-Sea, 90 per cent of those who responded backed the idea, while 93 per cent in Holland-on-Sea and 85 per cent in West Clacton and Jaywick Sands were also in favour.
If the project goes ahead, the proposal includes creating a Clacton-on-Sea Town Council with 25 councillors, a Holland-on-Sea Village Council with 15 councillors, and a West Clacton and Jaywick Sands Town Council with 12 councillors. These new councils would be responsible for local priorities such as managing parks, hosting community events, overseeing leisure facilities, and acting as a formal voice for residents on local planning applications.
The final decision on whether to form these councils will be made by the full council on 2 June 2026. If approved, the new bodies would begin operating on 1 April 2027, with the first elections for community councillors following in May 2027. Households in these areas should be aware that such councils are typically funded through a local tax charge, which currently averages just under £76 per year for a Band D property in other parts of the district.
The timing of this change is significant, as the current district council is set to be replaced by a new unitary authority in April 2028. Establishing these local councils would ensure these communities have a dedicated representative body to champion local issues even after the wider regional government changes take effect.
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