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Southend News

• Rogue landlords prosecuted by Southend Council

  ROGUE landlords have been prosecuted by Southend Council for licence breaches over properties they own. read more

• Councillor breaks ranks to call for safety measures as spot where little Joseph was killed

  A COUNCILLOR has broken ranks to support public calls for safety measures at the spot where a boy died. Tory Southend councillor Adam Jones spoke out after colleagues from all parties decided a pedestrian crossing was not justified at the spot in Westcliff where Joseph Ball was killed. Joseph, 6, was killed after being hit by an unlicensed, speeding biker as he crossed London Road, last October. His death led to a 10,000-signature petition. Nine months on, councillors have decided extra safety measures – even a crossing with traffic lights – would not have prevented Joseph’s death. Mr Jones, who represents St Laurence ward, said he disagreed with the decision, because he felt    there was a huge distinction between motorists who broke the speed limit and those who ignored  red lights. So a crossing with lights might prevent future accidents.  He said: “Clearly, we will never know if anything could have been done to have prevented this enormous tragedy. “But I do not think it is a fair assumption to say, because this biker should not have been on the road and was speeding, this young boy would have lost his life under any circumstances. “It is one thing to speed, and quite another to go through a red light.” In the wake of Joseph’s death, more than 10,000 people signed a petition, calling for a crossing at the spot where he was hit. The council promised a full investigation into possible extra safety measures. That process culminated last week, in a decision by the council’s environmental and economic scrutiny committee, which was asked if it felt a new crossing was justified, Highways officials had warned a new crossing could even lead to more accidents – a view accepted by the committee’s members. Tony Cox, Tory councillor responsible for transport, said: “What we have to remember is nothing we could have done would bring that young lad back. “This was a freak accident.” However, Mr Jones argued the weight of public feeling should not have been dismissed so easily. He said: “It is clearly an emotive issue and I do not think we should act too fast on this. “Would a red light have stopped this biker? We’ll never know, but it is a debate worth having.” read more

• Four Southend parks keep Green Flag awards

  PARKS across Southend have clinched four Green Flags for the second year in a row. read more

• Fears badgers could stall museum plan

  A COLONY of badgers has been found on the site earmarked for a new seafront museum. read more

• Scheme will encourage South Essex rail users to give up seats for expectant mums

  CHIVALRY is on track for a return to south Essex thanks to a scheme to encourage train passengers to give up their seats for expectant mums. read more

• Healthy eating workshop launched for south Essex parents

  A HEALTHY lifestyle workshop will take place to ease parents concerns about a rise in overweight children. read more

• Government approves plans for Southend's first free school

  THE Government has approved plans to create Southend’s first free school. read more

• Former cop avoids jail over seafront drink drive crash

  A FORMER police officer has narrowly avoided jail after she downed a bottle of vodka and crashed her sports car on Southend seafront. read more

On this day: Basildon News | Southend News | Non-league Football | Schools Sport | Blues News | In Memoriam | Olympics 2012