Echo news from Southend, Basildon, Castle Point,Rayleigh, Rochford, Wickford, Billericay, Thurrock

Don’t give in to council’s bully-boy parking tactics

1:08pm Friday 3rd February 2012

I am not surprised by the Southend spy camera car catching a motorist who dropped off her husband near public toilets (Feb 1).

No need for Holocaust rant

1:09pm Friday 3rd February 2012

We attended the Holocaust memorial service and were surprised the speaker, whose brief was to introduce the main speaker, launched into a lengthy harangue, blaming the UK and US governments for not intervening to save the Jews. He asserted our intelligence was well aware of what was going on and could have stopped it.

Despair for young couples after kids’ centre closures

1:54pm Thursday 2nd February 2012

With regard to your front page story, Outrage At Kids’ Centre Closures (Jan 31), the very nature of these sites is to help families who need child care and, perhaps, mums and dads who just need to have a break.

My stand on Nelson Hotel

1:54pm Thursday 2nd February 2012

I’d like to clarify my position regarding your story Nelson Hotel Might Be Turned Into Flats (Jan 31).

Double-dip recession?

1:55pm Thursday 2nd February 2012

Are the Tories and Liberals about to plunge us into a double-dip recession?

Why Hester should have his million

1:56pm Thursday 2nd February 2012

Surely the only people qualified to decide whether RBS chief executive Stephen Hester should receive a bonus are the board of directors and the shareholders.

False hope in new homes

12:10pm Wednesday 1st February 2012

We are now paying the price of capitalism, which relies on continuous growth, which is unsustainable whatever part of the equation you look at.

Cut back on foreign lorries

12:11pm Wednesday 1st February 2012

I agree with Southend Tory councillor Blaine Robin on the need for restrictions on foreign, articulated lorries driving on our roads and motorways.

We are all in the same European boat

12:11pm Wednesday 1st February 2012

Further to Ken Bennett’s letter, it may be of interest to younger readers to have a background of voting for the EU at 18.

Kindly caretakers cannot confront tower block yobs

12:03pm Wednesday 1st February 2012

Reading the article on caretaker power and the continuing problems with drug users and antisocial behaviour in flats in Southend (Jan 25), I was amazed at the comments of ex-Chief Supt Mick Thwaites.