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Southend News

• Southend businesses urged to take more apprentices

  SOUTHEND Council bosses are encouraging more businesses in the town to hire apprentices. read more

• Breath of life at last for thriving Southend Pier

  AFTER seven years in the doldrums, Southend’s pier is finally booming once again – and council chiefs are determined to capitalise on the feelgood factor. read more

• Skaters on seafront damaging benches and walls

  SKATEBOARDERS have again been accused of wrecking benches and walls in Southend. Traders say the £7million City Beach scheme on the seafront is being ruined by teenagers skateboarding and jumping along benches and the walls around flowerbeds. They spoke after complaints were made about damage to benches in the Victoria Gateway area, outside South-end Victoria railway station. Pebbles One cafe owner Paul Thompson said: “The fountain area is damaged, benches have had metal strips added to repair them and the stone works around flower beds are all chipped, where they wax them and do jumps from them. “They’re here all the time as it’s the school holidays. It’s in an awful state.” Mr Thompson said traders were getting fed up and felt the council should be doing more to stop them. He added: “The teenagers don’t care what damage they do, and no one from the council seems to want to do anything about it. “They paid all this money to do Marine Parade up – it would be nice if it was here for years to come. “Us traders try to stop them by putting things in the way, like deckchairs, but it’s not our responsibility to stop them.” The issue of skateboarders causing damage while practising their moves at recently-revamped Victoria Gateway was raised last week by the Triangle Residents’ Association. However, one businessman, Jordan Reilly, defended the skateboarders, who were the subject of a story in the Echo last Thursday. He said: “I pass the gateway every day on my way to and from work, and they are more than considerate for the people around them and make sure they do not get in the way. read more

• Southend Hospital tops stroke league table

  SOUTHEND Hospital has been named the best in the region for treating patients in danger of having a potentially fatal stroke. read more

• Chase High is top of the improved class

  JUBILANT teachers and pupils are celebrating after a remarkable turnaround in a school’s fortunes from failing to one of the most improved in the country. read more

• Schools could have more freedom to build on playing fields

  SCHOOLS could have more freedom to build on their playing fields to cope with a baby boom in Southend. read more

• How could a driver leave Izzy injured?

  A FURIOUS family have hit out at the motorist who drove off after knocking down their beloved pet poodle. read more

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