THURROCK council leader Terry Hipsey has urged developers behind the planned £1.5bn superport to respect local people's needs and wishes. The call came as Mr Hipsey and Gareth Davies, councillor responsible for business, visited the port site at the
DANCERS swayed to the sounds of samba during a carnival-inspired workshop. The class, held at Blenheim Primary School, Leigh, was organised by Sit and Fidget, the Southend-based arts organisation. Tutors from the Paraiso Samba School, London, made
RAYLEIGH Tory MP Mark Francois has been elevated to the Shadow Cabinet as the party's new spokesman on Europe. Mr Francois, who was previously shadow paymaster general, replaces Graham Brady who resigned his post in the continuing row over grammar schools
DETERMINED charity workers have vowed to keep open a respite centre - despite its ongoing struggle to find funding. The Recorder told recently how the Adventure Playground for People with Special Needs, in The Fryth, Basildon, had been struggling to
SMOKERS and businesses can get help to cope with new anti-smoking laws from a Basildon Council information campaign. In a month's time, smoking will be banned in shops, offices, factories, warehouses, pubs, clubs and eating places. The council is sending
Men and women who served in the Armed Forces prior to December 31, 1984, qualify for a Veterans' Badge. All veterans, whenever they served, are warmly invited to the National Veterans' Day service and celebration at St Mary's Church, Benfleet, on Friday
BAFFLED residents in Basildon's Brooke House tower block have been told to ditch their doormats - in case someone trips over them. A letter to tenants from Basildon Council suggests far from being welcoming and an aid to cleanliness, doormats are a
A HOTEL could be built in a pub car park if Basildon Council's planning committee approves. Brewery bosses want to develop a 43-room, three-storey hotel next to the Four Seasons pub in Victoria Road, Laindon. The application by Greene King is being
PATIENTS can expect more privacy at Basildon Hospital's emergency department after a £50,000 revamp. Work has started on two new assessment rooms which will be built over the next eight weeks. At the moment emergencies are assessed at the A&E's assessment
BASILDON is set to become a borough with its own mayor - provided the Queen agrees. Ruling Tories on Basildon Council have voted to petition the monarch at a special council meeting, called to decide whether Basildon should become a borough. The move
ESTATE agents based in the station house where Carry On star Joan Sims was raised have been interviewed for a BBC documentary. The famous actress's father was stationmaster at Laindon and she was raised in a house, off Station Approach, backing on to
TORY Malcolm Buckley has started a new year as Basildon Council's leader - by giving officers a rocket and warning them they needed to "pick up their game". Speaking at the council's annual meeting, the Tory leader implied senior staff were not working
A pensioner believes he had a lucky escape when a branch from a tree broke off, crashed through his fence and landed feet from his home. Sydney Swaysland, 79, of Elsenham Crescent, Vange, fears he could have been seriously injured if he had been leaving
FOOTBALLERS have called for action to stop youths smashing up their clubhouse. Wickford Town Football Club, based in the Memorial Park, has spent thousands of pounds over the past two years repairing broken windows and holes in the roof made by vandals
TO hire or not to hire, that may no longer be a hard question for employers interviewing Basildon College students. The students brushed up on their presentation skills, with the help of the London Theatrebus, to ensure they breeze through job interviews
Properties to Let in South Essex Office-laindon Clean office based in Laindon, near Station £75 per week Incl. Electric & parking spaces Nice working atmosphere, would suit small business Available July 2007 For more details telephone 01268 417320
LOATHSOME as paedophilia is, some of the responses to it verge on the farcical. Of Canvey Town Council's proposal for anti-paedophile patrols, let us just say it is pointless. Paedophiles rarely stalk the streets looking for trouble. They work deviously
THE planning process has dragged on for so long that London Gateway was starting to seem like the name of an inquiry, not a port. Now the decision to build the port has finally been taken, and it is a momentous one. It will help make the south Essex
ONE of Britain's rarest breeding grounds for endangered species is in danger of being overrun... by wild mustard. Wildlife experts claim the aggressive plants have started to swamp a 200-acre site of special scientific interest off Northwick Road, Canvey
HOMEOWNERS in a leafy street were distraught after dozens of nests with chicks were illegally destroyed by tree fellers. Residents of Eastfield Road, Canvey, looked on in horror as up to 20 trees were felled and lopped on a development site. It is illegal
VANDALS broke in and ransacked a school store room on Canvey. The crooks damaged the padlock of the store room at William Read primary school, before leaving toys and play equipment strewn across the grounds. Nothing was taken during the incident on
Tide times for week commencing 4th June 2007.... High tides for Monday June 4 are at: 0124 and 1335 High tides for Tuesday June 5 are at: 0206 and 1416 High tides for Wednesday June 6 are at: 0251 and 1501 High tides for Thursday June 7 are at:
A DOG owner has been forced to improve living conditions for West Highland terriers following an Echo investigation. RSPCA officers visited the illegally-built traveller plot in Hovefields Drive, Wickford, after witnessing our pictures of the animals
STAFF at Frankie and Benny's restaurant organised a pirate-themed fancy dress party for their younger visitors. Children were invited to visit the restaurant in Southchurch Road and take part in the fancy dress competition among a range of other activities
LITTLE Havens' Gimme 5 campaign to collect a million 5p pieces is off to a flying start - thanks to a shopping centre. The Thundersley children's hospice is collecting the tiny silver with the aim of raising more than £50,000 by the autumn. The Eastgate
A NEW four star hotel is set to be built on a redundant car park at Southend Airport... just yards away from a McDonald's drive-through restaurant. Airport managing director Alistair Welch revealed talks were being launched with residents about the plans
THIS year is cause for a triple celebration for Mick Scott. Not only does Mr Scott celebrate his 50th birthday and his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife Kim. But perhaps more important than either of those milestones, it is also a year since he
A £5MILLION programme that gives vulnerable people housing support has been given a zero star rating by Government inspectors. The Supporting People programme, paid for by the Government and administered by Southend Council, is "poor" and has "uncertain
PLANNING issues will be the main topic of discussion at a meeting of West Leigh Residents' Association next week. Borough architect Steve Kearney will talk to the group about planning processes and the local development framework. The meeting, will
A TALENTED youngster starring in a West End production is organising a trip to see the show to raise money for her church hall. Kirsty Hickey, 11, of Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh, is playing the part of Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof, at London's Savoy Theatre
TEENAGERS who have overcome learning barriers and personal issues were rewarded at a special ceremony. The presentation was held as part of the Pathways Project, which takes struggling youngsters out of school so they can gain vocational qualifications
A TALENTED youngster starring in a West End production is organising a trip to see the show to raise money for her church hall. Kirsty Hickey, 11, of Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh, is playing the part of Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof, at London's Savoy Theatre
A TEDDY bears' picnic helped raise cash for cancer charities. Emma Cazzuola, 30, of Grange Avenue, Wickford, organised the event at Lake Meadows, Billericay. Ten years ago she lost her grandmother Elizabeth Dodds, who was 56, to ovarian cancer, and
THE very worst nuisance neighbours could find themselves locked out of their homes under new powers the Government is planning to give councils. Home Office minister Vernon Coaker announced local authorities would soon be able to evict persistent noisy
The Zimmers release "My Generation". Oldest rock band destined for chart stardom.
Congratulations to Jamie and Francesca Rogers (Echo, May 28) and their schoolfriends, who are getting the savings habit from the Credit Union at Thorpedene Infants and Junior School, Shoebury. This is a habit which will stand them in very good stead
SHOP owners in Hockley are launching a new free delivery shopping service for elderly and disabled people. Brothers Ajay and Priyesh Desai plan to start delivering medicines, fruit and vegetables, but are keen for more traders to join their service.
SOUTHEND United have stepped up their bid to sign former Crystal Palace winger Tommy Black. The 27-year-old, who trained with the Shrimpers towards the end of last season, has now been released by the Eagles. And he is soon due to hold transfer
WEST Ham trio Nigel Reo-Coker, Anton Ferdinand and Mark Noble have all been called-up to the England squad for the upcoming European Under-21 Championships in the Netherlands. All three have impressed manager Stuart Pearce during a recent week-long
ESSEX were left to rue three dropped catches that allowed Glamor-gan to close a truncated first day of the Championship match on 146-2 wickets at Swansea yesterday. It should have been the visitors who enjoyed the better of the exchanges but two "lives
READING left-back Nicky Shorey could become West Ham's first major summer signing - just as soon as he has got his senior England debut out of the way. The Romford-born defender has been linked with a £5million switch to Upton Park following a superb
BOYCE Hill veteran Hugh Molloy got a high five from club captain Ian Turner after a unique hole-in-one. Molloy, an 18 handicapper, became the first member to complete all five of the course's par threes in a single stroke when he sunk his tee-shot
MOST IMPROVED - that's the year nine soccer boys of Rayleigh's FitzWimarc School. They collected the Castle Point and Rochford League - the first trophy they have won together as a team - and were unlucky not to make it a double when they lost 1-0
SOUTHEND United have failed in a bid for Cambridge United defender Michael Morrison. The Shrimpers were keen to bring in the towering young centre back. But their offer - which was to increase if the 19-year-old was to succeed with the Seasiders -
COMMUNITY-SPIRITED residents in Vange are being urged to help stamp out antisocial behaviour by becoming mentors. Bosses of South Anglia Housing association - which is responsible for around 700 houses in Vange - want residents to support each other
A HEADTEACHER lost much of his life's work in a fire that devastated his home. Andrew Baker, who works at Westcliff High School for Boys, looked on in despair as his house in Burges Road, Thorpe Bay, went up in flames along with important documents and
LAKESIDE Hammers are in action tonight at Wimborne Road where they take on Poole in an Elite League encounter. The Pirates will be without World Champion Jason Crump, who dislocated his shoulder in the Swedish Grand Prix on Saturday. But they have
LEIGH II took over top spot in Leigh & Westcliff LTA Ladies' Division Three with a 6-0 win over bottom club Westcliff Lawn II. But the lead could be short-lived as second-placed Rochford have a match in hand over their top-of-the-table rivals, who
SOUTHEND Rugby Club will kick off life in National League Two with a home clash against Stourbridge. The Black Country side, who finished seventh in the standings last year, will visit Warners Bridge on Saturday September 1 as the Seasiders look to
SOUTHEND Manor Youth have been lording it over their rivals with a string of successes this past season. Youngsters from across the club's age-groups scooped titles and runners-up places galore. In the Southend Junior League they won both the A and
SOUTHEND United are still battling it out with Scunthorpe to secure the services of Barnsley striker Paul Hayes. The forward is certain to leave Oakwell after turning down their latest offer of a contract. But he has yet to decide his future, and
CANVEY Town Council plans to set up patrols around schools to ensure paedophiles and undesirables do not loiter near children. However, the probation service has urged caution on the scheme, saying many cases of sex abuse come from within the family
HOCKLEY's Tom Grice has taken the lead in the German Junior Kart Championship with two commanding wins on his Mark Rose-prepared Gillard/MRC Parilla outfit. The teenager finished second at the first round at Oschersleben in April but on Sunday crushed
A MAN wielding a pickaxe tried to attack three women during a violent frenzy in which he smashed their car's windows. The women, all from Southend, were in a blue BMW on their way to a carnival in Luton, Bedfordshire, when a silver Vauxhall Astra blocked
A £1.5BILLION superport for south Essex has finally gained Government approval. The new world-class container port and business park, called London Gateway, will be built on the site of the former Shell oil refinery at Coryton, near Corringham. Developers
THE cupboard is almost completely bare. Local homeless charity, Harp, is desperate for donations to feed the area's homeless. But the charity's needs extend way beyond food. Harp runs three centres supporting the homeless in Southend and Westcliff.
