We share some of your readers' letters.

High Street? More like the Wild West

MY family and I do not use the High Street any more because there is too much crime there.

Also, it is supposed to be an alcohol-free area but our last visit, which was months ago, there were homeless people sitting on the benches in the middle drinking cans of strong lager and being very abusive to passers-by, trying to get money from them.

I myself have witnessed this first hand.

The town used to be a vibrant place where you could take the family and have a nice day out, visiting shops, having ice cream or sitting down to a nice plate of cod and chips, but now it’s like a Wild West scene.

All you need is a bit of tumbleweed and you could use it in a spaghetti western.

People of Southend, it’s in your hands to do something about it with May just around the corner, remember when you go to the polls do you want your town back? Vote for people in who live in the town, who have the passion for your town.

KB HUMPHRIES

Archer Avenue, Southend

.

Academy is truly an outstanding school

THE Eastwood Academy recently received a ‘24hr notice’ Ofsted inspection.

The Ofsted inspector’s report found that the school continued to have ‘strong practice and marked improvement’, was in the top ten per cent of all schools within the UK and stated that, if it received a level five inspection today, it would almost certainly be rated as ‘Outstanding’.

Not so many years ago, this was an average school, but the turnaround in its performance has been significant.

As a parent of a pupil there and a parent governor of the Academy, I can personally testify to the extremely high professionalism and dedication Neil Houchen and his highly skilled and motivated staff put in to the Academy, often going above and beyond to achieve this excellence.

I just wanted to add my sincere thanks to all at the Academy for providing an outstanding school for all those within the borough who have been lucky enough to have recently received a place for their children to attend this highly rated, desirable ‘non-selective’ but outstanding educational facility.

Thank you, Eastwood Academy.

KEVIN BUCK Highwood Close, Leigh

.

You could be due a refund too on LPA

A COUPLE of months ago, in a national paper, I noticed a small column regarding Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) that stated refunds could be claimed due to changes in pricing policy where people had arranged and paid for Power of Attorney in recent years up to March 2017. The amount of refund is dependent on when the LPAs were taken out and is based on a scale over a certain period of years.

My wife and I took out the Finance and Health LPAs and had them activated by the court in April 2013, which was part way into the refund period.submitted our claims in February and have since received a refund of £75 each, paid directly into our bank. So I would suggest that it is well worth checking if you think you may be entitled and if so the online claim process is very straightforward.

I believe claims have to be made before May this year.

You can contact via email: poarefunds@justice.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0300 456 0300 (option 6) Mon/Thur /Fri 9am to 5pm, Wed 10am to 5pm.

MIKE HANSFORD

Blenheim Chase, Leigh

.

Glad to see this restaurant back

SEVEN years after being ousted from Hockleyby action taken by Rochford District Council’s planning department and a handful of homeowners in Aldermans Hill, unfairly in my opinion, it is good to know that the Rose Garden restaurant has finally returned to its roots back here in Hockley under the same management as before.

The Rose Garden restaurant is now situated in the building fronting the Dome caravan park in Lower Road, Hockley. I went there recently in a party of nine enthusiastic diners and was pleased to find that the standard of cuisine was just as impressive as it was at the beginning of this catering business.

COLIN RILEY

Elizabeth Close, Hawkwell