Leigh Town Council's offices are at 67, Elm Road, Leigh. Town clerk is Geoff Fulford.

Leigh Town Council has published the following report spelling out its achievements over the past year and outlining its vision for the future.

PLANNING

Planning issues are highly controversial in Leigh. Protest groups have been set up to fight various proposals.

The town council's annual report says: "The number of applications is still very high, with more than 300 applications in the last year, reflecting the popularity of Leigh as a place to live, or to expand your living space. However, it causes problems with houses being squeezed in gaps that are not big enough, or flat proposals.

"There is also an ever-increasing number of appeals. The town council is represented at all hearings and public inquiries, and has been successful in helping to convince the Government appointed inspector that some of the appeals are not appropriate for Leigh.

"There have continued to be a lot of flat applications during the year, but not as many approved as people may think. The council is not fundamentally opposed to flats being built, but they need to be in the right place, not too high, or too densely cramped together, and with a pleasing design. One of the successes we have had by opposition to some flat developments is to get the number and height of flats reduced."

ALLOTMENTS

The town council report says: "The use of allotments continues to increase, and the Leigh Site, which two years ago looked dreadful is now more than half full and is really thriving with a new group of young enthusiastic plotholders and now Trust Links who will shortly be working on 13 plots.

"Trust Links is a charity, which helps people with mental problems, and one of their off-shoots, ‘Growing Together’ work on allotments to grow fruit and vegetables as well as teaching people on the ground about growing and land maintenance.

" Manchester Drive site continues to do well, and Marshall Close still has a waiting list."

"The Leigh site has a thriving orchard with a variety of Essex species of trees, producing fruit of a high quality and ensuring the future of these trees, which are not generally grown for commercial purposes."

"Rents were increased this year, for the first time since the town council took control of the allotments in 1999. This increase will give us the opportunity to spend less of the Council’s other income on the allotments, or to allow us to make further improvements – there is still much to do, particularly to make the sites secure from vandalism and damage."

FARMERS' MARKET

"This has been another successful year for the Leigh Farmers' Market," says the town council annual report. "There have been ten markets held at the Leigh Community Centre.

"We maintain controls over stalls so that they comply with Farmers Markets guidance and have been able to introduce several new and exciting producers, including Goats’ milk, bread supplier, lamb and venison."

SUPPORT FOR ORGANISATIONS

"Leigh Town Council has continued to provide support to local cultural events and organisations," the report adds. "Again, financial support was given to the Leigh Art Trail, the Leigh Folk Festival and the Old Leigh Regatta."

"We also subsidised the open top bus service on the Sunday of the Leigh Regatta (the only service of this type in 2005) This operated between Thames Drive and the Kursaal.

"These events are popular and enjoyed by a great number of residents and visitors and are firmly entrenched in local diaries.

FIRST AID/FLOWER TUBS AND BASKETS

The Leigh Town Council annual report says: "Cover was arranged with the St John Ambulance in the Old Town during the summer months and at the various events organised by the council and this will continue this year."

"These formed an attractive vista around the shopping areas in Leigh and will be purchased and maintained again this year."

STRAND WHARF

Leigh Town Council is behind an ambitious plan to revamp Strand Wharf in Leigh Old Town.

Talks over the plan are ongoing between Leigh Town Council and Southend Council.

The town council report says: "The plan includes levelling the wharf, laying block paviours and installing period lighting and furniture."

The expected cost is in excess of £100,000 and we have a capital reserve of £56,000.

CLEANER AND SAFER LEIGH

The town council report says: "We have initiated meetings and discussions with Southend councillors and these have included a walk through in Leigh illustrating the various areas that require improvement.

"Like many other things a lack of cash at Southend has restricted our efforts but we have been able to succeed in certain matters.

"We wrote to Network Rail and have succeeded in having the rubbish removed between Chalkwell and Leigh Stations.

"Town Councillors have begun clearance of the embankment areas immediately east of Leigh railway station. We are mindful that this area gives a first impression to visitors and residents on leaving the station or the car parks on route to the Old Town.

"A future project is to improve the area around the seawall south of the civic amenity site.

"As part of our initiative to improve the cleanliness and safety of Leigh we organised a poster competition for the local primary schools. We hope that by engaging children of primary school age with the associated problems will assist the community in the future.

SKATE PARK

The town council wants to build a new skate park on Leigh Marshes. The old skate park was damaged by fire and closed down.

The report adds: "We have now received and signed the Lease for the Skate Park area, and now need to move forward with plans, quotes, fund raising etc."

SCHOOL CROSSING PATROLS

"Two School crossing patrols have been lost during the year, at West Leigh Drive/London Road junction and Elm Road/Rectory Grove junction," the report said. "The town council has offered to fund both these posts."

CHURCH HILL

"Discussions are continuing with Southend Council on improving Church Hill, the main pedestrian route from central Leigh to the Old Town," the report added.

"This would include: lighting, handrails, replacing the granite setts, drainage, seats etc."

BOLLARDS

"The process of replacing old style concrete and rusty bollards or removing unnecessary bollards is continuing. Glendale Gardens has now been completed. It used to have nearly 100 bollards of various styles and conditions. It now has less than 50, and all are the new style cannon bollards," the report said.