A CONSERVATION group launched to protect buildings in the heart of Westcliff hopes it will kickstart a major regeneration of the area.

The Hamlet Court Conservation Forum has been formed after the landmark Havens department store announced plans to shut its doors for good. Members said the closure is “the saddest example” of traders struggling to cope with changes to the retail industry.

The forum, which was officially launched on Thursday, wants to work with residents, traders and the council to protect the urban heritage of Hamlet Court Road and the surrounding area. They hope to initiate a regeneration project which will attract new businesses and put the area on the map once again.

The group believe Hamlet Court Road “has many very fine and beautiful Edwardian buildings that deserve to be protected.”

Acting chairman, Andy Atkinson, said: “The road is held in great affection by many local people but needs help and regeneration.

“We hope that a heritage led, community supported approach might lead to the statutory protection required and help bring about a well structured, pro-active regeneration plan and heritage funding to help the road to thrive again.”

The group is willing to take on responsibility for much of the footwork normally done by local authorities when seeking conservation area status.

Mr Atkinson added: “We’ve done quite a lot of work and have had meetings at the council. We’ve done leaflet drops to give the public information and we’ve started to get support, but that’s going to take a while.

“We’ve told the council we can take on part of the workload - the first time a group has done this. There is a lot of work to be done for an area to become protected.

“To become a conservation area there needs to be an appraisal. It’s a big piece of work for which the council doesn’t have the resources, but we can do it as a community.”

The group is hoping for support from Historic England and is now building support through its website - hamletcourt.org

Mr Atkinson said: “We acknowledge that this is a huge undertaking but we live in times where communities are stepping forwards and we hope that this will provide the impetus needed.”

Mark Flewitt, councillor responsible for housing, planning and sustainability, said: “Planning laws and conservation can complement each other but they can also be up against each other.

“We support their aims but we have to do it in context with the rest of the town.”