MUSIC, art, literature and how to speak “Essex” are just some of the treats in store at this year’s Rayleigh Arts Festival. Over the course of next week, more than 40 artists, 30 community groups and a handful of businesses will gather to show off what
A BIKES in the Park event takes place tomorrow in Cluny Square. The event, between 1pm and 4pm, will offer chances for children to try mountain biking on their unique North Shore track and younger children to test their skills on a Go Ride course. The
MORE bicycle stands and shelters are being installed across the town, says Southend Council. Secure cycle shelters have been installed in most of the borough’s schools, Garon Park, Belfairs Swimming Centre and the University of Essex. Next, Southend
HUMAN dynamos are being sought for an eco-friendly challenge to light up a stage using pedal power. Arts group Metal wants to hear from people who can pedal a static bike for 30 minutes or an hour, for next week’s Big Charge event in Chalkwell Park.
IT is derby time in both London One North and London Two North East tomorrow. In the higher of the divisions, Thurrock host Westcliff and that should prove to be an intriguing tussle as both sides are unbeaten so far this term. Westcliff winger Paul
A NEW electronics exchange shop is set to open in the former Woolworths store in Basildon. Maps Trading, based at Claydons Lane, Rayleigh, has applied for permission to make alterations to the premises at 23b Town Square. The firm is
A MAN has pleaded guilty to killing 88-year-old Rosina Waller after hitting her with a concrete pot. At Chelmsford Crown Court, Hassan Salahi, 34, of Cunningham Close, Southend pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Mrs Waller, but admitted
It seems incredible that the theft of lead from a church roof has been so frequent that buildings insurance is no longer available to the church in question. The penalty for the offender will be 18 weeks in prison. A more suitable punishment
Verina Weaver is missing the point (Aug 27). It is precisely because so many Southenders care so much about the town, that they do not want to see it become a sterile and modernised environment, devoid of many of its original features, including
Following the letter from Mr Murphy (Sept 6) I felt the points he made regarding Wat Tyler Country Park warranted a response. Over the past two years a considerable amount of investment has made the park into one of the best in the county.
I felt I had to comment on two articles. First was the headline regarding the two boys on a bicycle being forced off the road (Sept 3). Of course it goes without saying the driver should never have deliberately aimed at the boys. However, they
Is it only me or has anyone else noticed the excessive use of road signs and other highway furniture locally? At every opportunity it appears the powers that be agree to signs or road markings to be erected or painted on the pavements or roads
I was confused after reading all is well with the palm trees that adorn a large stretch of Southend’s glorious seafront (Sept 13). According to the council’s greenfingers department, which looks after the well-being of the trees, poor speciments
On Saturday, I attended the flower festival at St Nicholas Church in Laindon. What a great day. As well as all the beautiful flower arrangements, the church had photographs and information about local residents who had found fame for one reason
Southend grew and prospered as a Victorian and Edwardian seaside town, with the introduction of the railway making it a tourist magnet. The pier, Royal Terrace and other grand residential areas, and a number of public parks were created. Tourism
I write in response to Brian Butler’s letter about the average speed cameras on the A127 (Sep 2). They calculate the average speed between two points, so where a driver has been behind a person doing 45mph, the driver can, illegally, increase
I walk to my nearest shopping centre then, when laden, use my pensioner pass and go home on a bus. On almost every occasion I have an encounter with a cyclist on the pavement, silently riding behind me, then veering past at speed. I am visually
Surprise, surprise Southend Council has given planning permission for a new hotel at the airport, without any problems. What hold has Stobarts got over our council that every application it makes goes through without any argument, while others
I was disappointed councillor Pat Rackley chose to resign from the Task and Finish group because she was unhappy that only one union, Unite, was invited to participate in a meeting regarding taxis. Unite is known to represent a significant number
I think councillor Tim Gandy is just making political capital by protesting outside Billericay Police Station after the announcement of reduced opening hours. The sub stations in the Basildon district have never been open to the public for extended
Jackie Head is pleased Basildon will have a new pool by April 2011 (Sep 8). However, she expresses concern at the size of the pool, and says we should be building something for the community. I would like to reassure her the Sporting Village
The Cliffs Pavilion car park provides spaces for eight Blue Badge holders near the entrance to the lower floor. Unfortunately, the exit route from this area is easily obstructed by vehicles badly or wrongly parked at its narrowest point. In
I suspect Brian Butler (Sep 9), along with a high proportion of motorists who use the A127, does not appreciate there are two separate restrictions within the average speed controlled area. The first is 50mph, which then increases to 70mph.
Basildon Council is selling the people of the town down the river with its decision to push ahead with plans to sell off playing fields to help fund the Sporting Village (Sept 13. As one of the many who opposed this big “summer sale”, I think
I find it remarkable if Chief Inspector Andy Prophet believes Southend- based clamping company LBS Enforcement was making “reasonable” demands for money (September 13). In the BBC Watchdog programme on Thursday the LBS representative sat and
No useful purpose can result from inquests of soldiers killed in action unless a verdict of corporate manslaughter be levelled against the authorities who ordered them into the situation in the full knowledge of the possibility of death (Sept
I found it interesting your editorial suggested that by reducing the number of councillors was somehow an attack on democracy (Sept 13). With the introduction of the cabinet-style of local government, the majority of councillors now only have
I would like to clarify the position regarding the public at extraordinary meetings of the full council. The public can attend, but the meetings are for elected councillors to debate the issues, not the public. However, we realised how important
Regarding Mr Diment’s letter about the young Joan Sims entertaining commuters at Laindon station, I was a clerk in charge of the goods department at the station, under Mr H Sims, from 1947-1950 when I was recalled to the Royal Navy at the outbreak
Chalkwell Park is a credit to the gardeners. Sitting in the rose garden, I thought what a nice place to bring my dog. So next time I went, I took my dog, sat in the garden with my dog on a lead, poured a cup of tea from my flask and sat back
Now the furore regarding Southend Airport’s planned extension has abated, it is time to look at the matter in a more logical manner. In legal terms if you move to a problem then you have no grounds for complaint, but if the problem moves to
RESIDENTS who already struggle to park near their homes claim the redevelopment of a run down hotel in Leigh could force the situation into meltdown. Plans to bring the Bell Hotel, on Leigh Hill, back to life as a 12-bed hotel with restaurant and bar
Frustrated residents have set up a petition calling for the council to take responsibility for the maintenance of roads on a housing estate in Shoebury. Residents who live at Shoebury Garrison are calling for Southend Council officials to take control
I THINK we’re a better side than we were last season, but tomorrow’s game with Ealing will be a real test of that. Last year we had two frustrating matches against them and managed to lose both of the games from a winning position. On the positive
LABOUR members on Southend Council are refusing to take part in cross-party talks about deep cuts to local services. Tory leader Nigel Holdcroft has invited councillors of all political persuasions to look at ways of cutting spending, ahead of January
TORY MP Rebecca Harris’s bid to have Britain’s clocks changed to make evenings lighter has won the backing of Britain’s major sporting organisations. The Football Association, Lawn Tennis Association and England and Wales Cricket Board are among more
A TRADING standards boss has expressed frustration it cannot deal with cowboy clampers. David Baxter, Southend Council’s principal trading standards officer, said its “hands are tied” with regards to clamping companies because the laws do not allow
A DECORATED Polish Second World War naval hero who settled in Essex to run a photographic studio has died aged 98. Veteran Jozef Debowy, who lived in Southchurch Rectory Chase, Southend, was involved in the Allies’ first major Naval campaign of the
MOVES to save an iconic metal fountain which stood outside Ford’s former headquarters in Basildon for 35 years have given campaigners new hope. Earlier this week, Vin Harrop, director of the Foundation of Essex Arts, spoke in the Echo of his concerns
MICHAEL Timlin cannot wait to get to kick-start his season with Southend United. The 25-year-old midfielder has figured just once in the league for Swindon Town so far this term. And he is therefore excited to be kicking off his month
A PRIMARY school has been put into special measures after failing an Ofsted inspection. Eastwood Primary School will now be overseen by Cheryl Woolf, the headteacher of West Leigh Junior School, who has been appointed as an executive head by
BROTHERS Michael and Lee Guess will again team up tomorrow in a bid to extend Southend Rugby Club’s unbeaten start to the season. The South Woodham Ferrers based duo have helped the Seasiders succeed in both of their matches so far. And they now want
PLANS have been drawn up for a new library, art gallery and teaching areas in Southend town centre, costing up to £30million. The project, involving Southend Council, South Essex College and the University of Essex, would be on the site of
THE body of a man was found in the garden of a house in a Southend street this morning. Police, who were called at 8.10am, taped off Cambridge Road while they investigated the incident. They are not treating the death as suspicious.
A TEENAGER who almost died from meningitis when she was a child, has welcomed a breakthrough by scientists looking for a vaccine for the killer infection. Katie Lumb, 18, came within half an hour of losing her life to the deadly meningitis
DRIVERS face a £200 fine if they park in the wrong place during Hadleigh’s Olympic mountain biking event. The punishment, which is well above the area’s standard £70 charge, will apply to vehicles parked in certain excluded areas surrounding
THE Coroners’ Service has predicted it will go £547,000 over budget this year while it hires extra staff to clear a backlog of inquests. Essex County Council said it is in the process of recruiting three more members of staff to work in its 22-strong
THE family of a girl who died suddenly at the age of seven are celebrating her life by paying for a memorial bench in one of her favourite spots. Chloe Turbard died of heart failure brought on by a virus last year, two days she was diagnosed with an
ESSEX Pirates begin their BBL Trophy campaign at Leicester Riders tomorrow, without the services of five first team players. Coach Tim Lewis is still waiting for a quintet of new signings to arrive in Southend. And that means he will
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock looks set to stick by centre-back Bilel Mohsni for his side’s first ever meeting with Morecambe tomorrow. Mohsni was at fault for both Northampton Town goals in last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at the Sixfields
THE countdown has started to the opening of the new state-of-the-art diving pool at Garon Park in Southend. The 3D video above gives a virtual tour of the £13.5million facility, which opens in November. The British Diving Team has expressed
A GARDEN planned to commemorate the service of Canvey’s lifeguards has been praised as a “fitting tribute”. Work on the gardens, in Eastern Esplanade, is now under way with the Canvey East Neighbourhood Meeting agreeing £1,000 to pay for a plaque to
RADICAL plans to improve journeys for commuters using Laindon and Wickford rail stations could be threatened by Government cuts. Just 12 months after Basildon Council agreed a raft of measures to ease commuter parking problems and improve transport
CALLING all budding actors and dancers... If you want to perform in a professional production in front of hundreds of people a night, then make sure you read on. The Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff, is looking for performers for its Christmas
RESIDENTS were disgusted after ruling Tory councillors voted to sell-off playing fields across Basildon. More than 170 residents watched a heated emergency full council meeting at the Towngate Theatre, St Martins Square. Councillors
AN ENTREPRENEUR who built up a unique clothing company for poorly children has been named as one of Britain’s most inspirational businesswomen. Julia Manneh, 47, from Laindon, has made it to the finals of the Barclays 2010 Trading Places Awards
AWOMAN given a devastating double cancer diagnosis attended a job interview later in the same day. Belle Howard, 40, was told she had at least two forms of invasive cancer in both breasts, just two hours before the interview at Southend Hospital
