PLANS have been submitted to turn a Hockley office into a new dental surgery.

Dr Esmail Harunani, of Harunani and Co, has applied to turn Montrose House, in Southend Road, into Rochford district’s latest practice.

Many of the town’s residents, and some from neighbouring Hawkwell, are having to travel outside the town to places such as Rayleigh for dental treatment, after the temporary NHS contract for the White Hart Lane Dental Practice expired earlier this month.

NHS South East Essex has since awarded the contract to Harunani and Co, which already has six surgeries, and is in the process of opening three other practices in Essex at Maldon, Kelvedon and Leigh.

Currently, three practices – the Oasis Dental Care and the Smile Centre, both in High Road, Rayleigh, and the Rochford Dental Practice, in West Street – are taking on patients from Hockley who no longer have NHS cover.

Chairman of Hawkwell Parish Council, Vic Leach, said: “It is a relief the situation seems to have resolved itself and I would hope this is a long-term answer, given all the uncertainties in respect of dentists in Hockley.

“It is about time they got it sorted out properly. Half of the residents in Hawkwell gravitate towards Hockley.”

The application will be decided by councillors in May.

For more information, call the dental helpline on 01702 226668.