Councillors are to explore proposals for establishing town or parish councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea, and Jaywick Sands.

Tendring District Council (TDC) will investigate the possibility of establishing new councils for the areas after councillors backed a new community governance review at a meeting of the full council last week.

Unlike most parts of the district, the three areas do not currently have their own parish or town councils.

The decision triggers a substantial consultation process with more than 50,000 residents living in the area so the council can hear their views on potentially creating new local councils that could provide representation on a parish level to help address the unique needs of local communities.

Council leader Mark Stephenson said: "We are committed to ensuring that our communities have a strong voice in local governance.

“This review will allow local people to have their say about the best ways to achieve this for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea, and Jaywick Sands.

“We won’t be imposing a parish council on any of these areas – at the heart of the review is that we consult and engage with local residents and ask their views.

“Following the review, there would be a second round of consultation before anything is put in stone – and we can discontinue the proposals for any of the areas based on the responses received.

"Public input is crucial to this process. We encourage everyone to participate in the consultation and let us know their thoughts on how local governance can be improved."

The council’s Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been tasked with overseeing the review and will consider all feedback received before making a final recommendation to the council.

Final recommendations won’t be made until early 2026 to ensure there is plenty of time for households to express their views.

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