A lot has been happening across south Essex this week, here's a few news items that might have passed you by.

1. A CARE home has been praised by a health watchdog.

Longview, in Little Gypps Road, Canvey, was given a good rating by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection last month.

Inspectors found patients were treated with kindness and respect, had the opportunity to take part in a range of activities, and had their individual needs assessed.

Staff were also praised for their skills and good knowledge of safeguarding procedures.

Longview provides support and personal care for up to 70 older people, many with dementia.

2. A CHARITY golf tournament will be held in memory of a cancer victim.

The fifth annual Andrew Stone Golf ITournament will be held at Langdon Hills Golf Club, in Lower Dunton Road, in memory of Andrew, who died of skin cancer the month before his 33rd birthday, in 2008.

The tournament will be on Saturday, August 1, with registration closing on Saturday, June 30.

Over the past four years, more than £18,200 has been raised for Cancer Research UK in his memory.

Tickets cost £65 per player including breakfast, a T-shirt, evening buffet, and entry to an evening event with a free raffle ticket. Registration opens from 11am with the first tee-off at 12.30pm. The evening prize giving event will be open to partners, friends and family and begins at 7pm.

Prizes will be given for the longest drive, nearest the pin and overall winner.

Mark Rivett, organiser and a close friend of Andrew, said: “As a keen golfer himself, it seemed the most appropriate way to raise much-needed funds and so the Andrew Stone Golf Tournament was started, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.”

To reserve a place or to offer prizes, or donations, email andrewstoneinvitational@yahoo.co.uk

3. LIBRARIES are appealing for volunteers to help with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Last year, 42,800 Essex children took part in the challenge, reading books to gain rewards. Volunteers aged 14 and above are needed to help sign up children and talk to them about books. They need to be able to spend at least 15 hours on the project between July 11 and September 5.

For details, visit local libraries, or essex.gov.uk /libraries

4. YOBS threw bricks and rocks at a cattle enclosure, injuring some of the animals at a farm near Homestead Road, Pound Lane, Bowers Gifford. They also damaged farm buildings.

Two youths, aged 16 and 17, have been questioned, but have not been charged.

Anyone with information should contact PC 76318 Walker at Pitsea police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

5. MAJOR roadworks in Essex will be lifted ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

Resurfacing works on the M25, between junctions 30 and 31 at South Ockendon, and improvement works on the A1023 in Brentwood, will both be halted from Friday morning until Thursday, May 28. Highways England usually reinstates roadworks on Tuesdays after a bank holiday, but is extending the suspension due to the threat of rail disruption.

The RMT union has called a 24- hour strike, starting at 5pm on Monday, which threatens to cause widespread cancellations.

Simon Sheldon-Wilson, director of customer operations at Highways England, said: “We are working with Network Rail and others to manage the impact of any industrial action on our customers.

“Motorways and major routes are likely to be even busier than usual if the planned industrial action goes ahead as travellers switch from rail to roads.

“During and immediately after the bank holiday we will be doing everything possible to manage traffic, such as removing temporary roadworks where practical.”

6. CAMPAIGNERS looking to turn an old tram stop shelter into a community hub raised £1,100 for the project at a golf day.

The team laid on the event at Garon Park Golf Complex, off Eastern Avenue, on May 14.

The money will go towards the team’s plan to renovate the shelter, in Thorpe Bay Esplanade.

7. MORE than 50 residents have registered opposition to plans for an extra storey on an “eyesore” office block.

Richard Biggs has applied for permission to build a third floor at Hallmark House, in Downham Road, Ramsden Heath.

The two-storey, flat-roofed block, built in the Seventies, is currently occupied by web design company Chalk Media.

Village resident Nina Scotland said: “Hallmark House is already an eyesore, and to increase its size would be unacceptable. It is out of keeping with the environment. The village sits within a developed green belt; but surely this proposed development would further reduce the village’s rural feel?”

As of Tuesday, 57 people had registered objections to the application.

Traffic issues and potential danger to pedestrians were also cited as concerns by objectors. Resident Lorna Wearn said: “I have lived in Ramsden Heath most of my life and I used to walk safely to school. However, with all the parking issues caused by the offices, my children cannot cross the road safely to walk alone.”

South Hanningfield Parish Council has also objected to the plans, due to the number of cars parking in Downham Road because of inadequate parking at the block.

Council clerk Julie Moule said: “They also park in Dovedale Close and the part of Downham Road known as the Doves, both of which are residential cul-de-sacs. There have been a number of incidents over the years where residents cannot access their drives.”

A public consultation on the application ends on June 1.

Chelmsford Council aims to rule on the proposal later that month.

8. A COLLAPSED sewer in Southend Road and Wick Lane, Wickford, is set to be repaired.

Motorists are warned to expect delays while engineers from Anglia Water work in the carriageway between Tuesday, May 26, and Friday, May 29.

One lane will be closed and temporary traffic lights will be installed.

9. A SUSHI bar’s opening date has been delayed by a month.

Norbert Nemes, 33, began fitting out a former florists’ in Clarence Road, Southend, in April, with a view to open the outlet by the end of the month, but said this has now been delayed until the beginning of June.

The former city worker, who trained with Japanese chefs in London, said the delay was largely due to the need to hire more staff.

He said: “There has been a big demand for delivery and the person who’s preparing the food is not going to be able to handle the cash at the same time, so I’m going to have to take on another two people.”

10. AN office building in Southend could be converted into flats.

The NHS, which has an office at Warrior House, and accountancy firm, Accounting IT, are moving out of the Southchurch Road building.

The two organisations are based on the first floor of the building, and a planning application has been submitted by developers to turn that office space into 19 flats.

The second floor of the building already has 19 flats in it and the ground floor consists of commercial units.

The project will be designed by Southend-based architects APS Designs Associates.

The Government has relaxed planning laws for office coversions, making it easier for developers to get approval to turn vacant units into homes.

However, no affordable homes have to be offered up, as part of the legislation.