ROADS get busier all the time. It sounds like an obvious truth. Month on month, year on year, the traffic builds relentlessly. Yet, one once major trunk road in south Essex has reversed the tendency and gone to sleep. Until 2002, the A130 between Battlesbridge
FED-UP residents living on a graffiti-strewn estate have called for a clampdown on the ever-growing menace. People living on the Wick, Wickford, say they are sick and tired of having to clean up after vandals. One of the worst hit areas is in the heart
A FAMILY are "lucky to be alive" after a blaze broke out in their bungalow. Firefighters were called to the chalet bungalow in the Redinge, Billericay, just before 7pm yesterday, when it is thought some hair straighteners left on a bed began to smoulder
ARMED police swooped on a house after a report of a man wielding a firearm. However, the alert turned out to be over a BB gun. Police had sent up the force's helicopter and despatched armed officers in pursuit of the man after a member of the public
A DATE for the public inquiry into plans to store liquid natural gas on Canvey should be set by the end of the summer. Yvette Cooper, minister for housing and planning at the Department for Communities and Local Government, has answered a written question
A WOMAN living opposite a busy recycling centre has called for new measures to make the site safer following a serious crash. An elderly woman had to be cut free by firefighters on Saturday afternoon after her car rolled following a collision with another
TRAFFIC wardens and street wardens in Castle Point have been given special police powers in the fight against antisocial behaviour. Castle Point parking attendants and council staff who work in the community have been given special accreditation under
SAM Pile might be able to fly his parents over to France for lunch, but he still needs people to drive him round. The Rochford teenager is possibly Britain's youngest pilot at just 17, but he is still a long way from getting his driving licence. He
A CANVEY school is getting ready to celebrate 50 years of teaching children this year. An invitation is extended to all former staff and students of Furtherwick Park School. Over the next few months, several events are being held at the school which
CHILDREN are being warned they are dicing with death by using inflatables in the sea off Canvey. Iris Wallace, 77, says children are going out into the waves because a dilapidated pool at the beach off Eastern Esplanade has become unusable. Mrs Wallace
PLANS for a 12-lane bowling alley in an empty factory have been given the go-ahead by Rochford district councillors - against the views of their own officers. Members of the development control committee felt the overall community benefit which could
DETECTIVES investigating the mystery disappearance of a mum-of-two say they are still hopeful new information will come to light - seven years after she went missing. Just three-weeks before she was due to get married 29-year-old Nicola Ray disappeared
RAYLEIGH Boys under-13 football team has received 24 new sports bags, courtesy of Santandar, Abbey National's parent bank. The gift came after the team were runners up in the B Divison of Southend and District Junior Football Leage As a result, the
MORE than 2,000 people have signed a petition, calling for more dentists to serve the population of two villages. Families in Hawkwell and Hockley say they have been frustrated for decades by a shortage of local NHS dentists. A petition, signed by more
Having been elected youth mayor 2007/2008 at the February Youth Council meeting, I was formally presented with my chain of office at the February Southend Council meeting. The chain of office was presented to Southend Youth Council when we reinstated
TWO youngsters proved they were a cup above the rest after being selected to represent Great Britain in an unusual sport. Katie Binder, and Samantha Izod, both 11, and pupils at Heycroft Primary School, Eastwood, travelled to America to take part in
A MEMORIAL bench has been unveiled in tribute to a popular musician who died last year. Harry Day, who died in September aged 87, was a professional drummer and singer. The seat in memory of him is on Southend cliffs near the Navy and Military Club
SOUTHEND in Bloom, the town's top gardening event, has been launched. Council parks technical officer Paul Jankinson said: "Southend in Bloom attracts great deal of interest. This year we have added new contest categories, including one for the best
TRADERS have spoken of their fears over plans to redevelop a shopping arcade in Leigh. Clement's Arcade, off Leigh Broadway, could be transformed from a cosy collection of small shops and businesses to a larger shopping parade with a flat and office
THE empty space at the top of Southend High Street looks set to undergo a revamp to attract more families to the town centre. Despite its teething problems, the ice rink which was set up there during the winter proved popular. Now it is gone, officials
SOUTHEND United fans, players and coaching staff are still licking their wounds, days after the team was relegated from the Championship. Saturday's home defeat against Luton saw the Blues drop a league, leaving the team's dreams of staying in football's
LEGENDARY Cockney rockers Chas n' Dave will be performing a string of old hits at the opening of a new retirement development in Hadleigh. The duo will entertain residents and their guests at Aragon Court on Friday, May 18. Three pairs of tickets are
I wish children came with a handbook that told you what is and isn't unreasonable behaviour to expect and what are and aren’t appropriate parental responses. Does anyone else find it really hard at times to trust their own judgement regarding parenting
I wish children came with a handbook that told you what is and isn't unreasonable behaviour to expect and what are and aren’t appropriate parental responses. Does anyone else find it really hard at times to trust their own judgement regarding parenting
DRIVERS suffered major delays on the way to work after two crashes on the A127. They happened less than two miles apart between the Wickford A130 turn-off and Rayleigh Weir during rush hour. Ambulance crews attended both incidents but nobody was seriously
IN the summer of 2005, the Echo delivered a provisional judgment on the then new, and untested, Essex Chief Constable. "He talks well, his ideas are sound, now let's see how he delivers," was the initial verdict on Roger Baker. Two years on, the time
COUNCILLOR Tracey Chapman is a woman with a mission - to give Essex children the best possible start in life. Mrs Chapman, Tory county councillor for Rochford North, is moving up in the corridors of power at County Hall, with a new role as the councillor
DISABLED drivers have welcomed new measures to restrict the amount of time they can park in council-run car parks. New rules, introduced by Basildon Council, mean disabled drivers can only use specialised bays for up to three hours. Before, there was
A RADIO presenter will swap her microphone for a bicycle as she prepares to take on a huge cycling challenge for charity. Tracie Young, 42, from Southend, will ride from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for Little Havens Children's Hospice,
NEXT time you park in Western Esplanade, watch out. If you don't pay for parking, you are likely to become one of the many contributors to Southend Council's parking fine coffers. A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Echo revealed Western
A BUSINESSMAN hopes to open a juice bar on the site of a former toilet block later this month. Michael Fleet bought the old public toilets in West Road, Westcliff, for £90,000 at an auction last Sep- tember. He has now been given permission by Southend
MYSTERY surrounds the resignation of a director of a performing arts college. Daniel Holt's resignation was accepted by Whitehall College, in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood. The college - set up in 1991 - is run by Mr Holt's wife, Judy, who has now reverted
A JUDGE has lifted an order forcing a sex offender to wear a fluorescent jacket. In March, Judge Peter Dedman ordered peeping tom Stephen Cooper, 24, to wear the coat at night for the "protection of women". Cooper has pleaded guilty to voyeurism after
TOP Essex rockers Koopa are playing a charity gig to raise funds for a rare genetic disease that affects young children. The punk-pop band, who became the first act in history to enter the top 40 without signing a record deal, have confirmed they are
SOUTHEND United striker Freddy Eastwood today expressed his delight at being called up into the Wales national squad. As exclusively revealed in Echosport last month, the Shrimpers hot-shot is able to play for the Principality because his grandfather
BILLERICAY Town will visit Bromley in the Ryman Premier play-off final on Saturday. After Town's thrilling penalty shoot-out success at Chelmsford City on Monday night, the Kent side beat AFC Wimbledon 1-0 at home last night to earn a final with Billericay
SOUTHEND United's immediate return to League One may finally have been confirmed on Saturday, but there was a glimmer of light for the Shrimpers. Seventeen-year-old midfielder Franck Moussa looked solid in the centre of the park in what was his first
TEAM spirit was what saw Billericay Town reach the final of the Ryman Premier League play-offs, according to their spot-kick hero Jamie Dormer. The Blues captain secured an unlikely victory for his side by blasting home the winning penalty to break
BILLERICAY Town at last laid to rest the ghost of their treble-winning FA Vase side of the 1970s by producing one of the greatest performances in the club's history. The New Lodge side's penalty shoot-out success over Chelmsford City on Monday night
SO what exactly did go wrong for Southend United? It is a question that every supporter will be asking throughout the summer as they analyse their side's relegation from the Championship. The season started full of optimism after two successive
A SUPERB personal best mirror carp of 26lb 8oz was the icing on the cake for Mark Embury when he enjoyed three spectacular evening sessions at his local Lake Meadows fishery. Embury's trio of short sessions saw him land nine carp, three of them weighing
A MONTH ago, Andrew McGarry was running his military medal auction business and preparing for a season in minor counties cricket with Suffolk. Last week, the former South East Essex College student was running in to bowl in the County Championship
ESSEX start their LV County Championship match with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road boosted by the return of Andre Nel and Ravinder Bopara from World Cup duty. South African seamer Nel was due to arrive in England last night, while Bopara returned
PAUL Goodey enjoyed the perfect end to his rugby career as he helped Southend clinch the National League Three South championship. The 32-year-old has decided to hang up his boots after suffering a succession of knee injuries. But he signed off
COMMUTERS fed up with poor facilities at the busiest station on the c2c line have had their views presented in Parliament. A petition started by Canvey resident Lisa Gilliham has been signed by hundreds of travellers, raising worries about bicycle security
A TAXI driver was grabbed by the throat and punched in the head by robbers who stole just £20 in takings. The 53-year-old cabbie had stopped in Yardeley, near Great Knightleys, Laindon, to pick up three men who were going to nearby Ballards Walk. While
THE best friend of crash victim Joanne Cottage is hoping to collect hundreds of signatures to try to improve road safety where the popular teenager died. Abbie Turner, 17, said she was still recovering from the loss of her best friend and was determined
As usual, my husband and I took our dogs for a run, ending on the football pitches before you cross Prittle Brook to Warners Bridge rugby club. It was a lovely sunny Sunday evening. Lots of rabbits were out in the fields and the football ground. As we
I am writing with regards to Rayleigh Town Councils' decision to charge Rayleigh Boys Football Club to use King George's Playing Field. Rayleigh Town Council wish to charge £200 for five months use of the small area at the top of Bull Lane, which is
Regarding the previous letter (April 24) in respect of the affordable housing planning application being rejected by Southend Council. I would just like to comment as one of those terrible Nimbys who objected! Southend Council quite rightly rejected
In response to Ivy Macfarlane's letter Take your choice in local elections (April 20). I do not know about the other people she mentions, but she obviously does not know Mo Larkin well. She seems to have followed the political careers of those she mentions
NEIGHBOURHOOD policing seems to be getting as good a response from officers as from residents. Bret Mercer, a neighbourhood officer for Lee Chapel North, Basildon, said dedicating specialist police to a ward worked well because they could get a thorough
A BUSINESSMAN hopes to open a juice bar on the site of a former toilet block later this month. Leigh man Michael Fleet bought the old public toilets in West Road, Westcliff, for £90,000 at an auction last Sep- tember. He has now been given permission
PLANS to transform a boat-builder's site into tea rooms are expected to be submitted this week. Businessman John Cross, who owns the Seaking boat builders in Leigh Old Town, said he will submit plans this week and expects them to be well-received by
ASIDE from the occasional football chant, ask most men to stand up and sing in public and the response is not likely to be polite. But 20 weeks ago, Leigh Orhpheus Male Voice Choir did just that - and have been overwhelmed at the response they received
ASIDE from the occasional football chant, ask most men to stand up and sing in public and the response is not likely to be polite. But 20 weeks ago, Leigh Orhpheus Male Voice Choir did just that - and have been overwhelmed at the response they received
IT can be a dog's life for man's best friend, according to Vicky Kelly. Often labelled naughty, disruptive or just plain stupid, in reality your badly behaved pooch is lacking an effective leader - so says Vicky. As a qualified dog listener, Vicky,
IT can be a dog's life for man's best friend, according to Vicky Kelly. Often labelled naughty, disruptive or just plain stupid, in reality your badly behaved pooch is lacking an effective leader - so says Vicky. As a qualified dog listener, Vicky,
SOUTH Essex people have been invited to back their towns to feature as squares on a new Monopoly board. Basildon or Southend could replace the likes of Park Lane. It would be a huge honour to win, but our towns will be in fierce contention with scores
ESSEX has the second highest number of officers dedicated to neighbourhood policing, a new report has revealed. The report, by the Conservative Party's taskforce on police reform, showed more than 30 per cent of Essex officers were dedicated neighbourhood
YOUNG chefs cooked up a treat for fellow pupils and staff as part of a gifted and talented project. Pupils at William Edwards School and Sports College, Grays, participated in a Ready, Steady, Cook style goody bag challenge where they baked a variety
DOG owners took up the chance to have their pets microchipped at a cost of £15 by Southend Council animal warden Val Howells. The special advice session, held near the police unit in Marine Parade, Southend, marked the start of a campaign drawing attention
MAYFAIR and Park Lane could be replaced by Basildon and Southend if the towns win the battle to feature on a new Monopoly board. Campaigners want people to vote for their towns to be immortalised on the world-famous game's board. For the first time,
JOHN and Elizabeth Clark have a thing or two to teach young couples about sticking together. The couple, from Flamboro Close, Eastwood, have just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and they say there is nothing to it. Mrs Clark, 93, said: "We
THINK before you act - that's the message being hammered home to teenagers as part of a new touring production. Why Wait? Why Not? is a hard-hitting play that aims to encourage safer sex. The show, by the Outloud Productions Theatre Company, is currently
TRAVELLING to the capital for specialist heart and lung treatment will soon be a thing of the past for thousands of Essex residents. Building work in now complete on the world-class £60million Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon. The centre will
PLANS to create a games area for young people in a trouble-hit park have been rejected by residents. South Green Community Association is trying to come up with solutions to anti-social problems in Langham Park, Billericay. The group devised proposals
ESSEX motorists could soon be filling up with green fuels at the pumps if plans for a new biodiesel plant are successful. Sure Green Fuels and consultants Royal Haskoning have submitted plans to build an industrial-scale biodiesel and glycerine production
THOUSANDS of civil servants across south Essex took part in a nationwide strike, protesting against privatisation and job cuts. The strike was organised by the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents civil servants including staff at prisons
IT can be a dog's life for man's best friend, according to Vicky Kelly. Often labelled naughty, disruptive or just plain stupid, in reality your badly behaved pooch is lacking an effective leader - so says Vicky. As a qualified dog listener, Vicky,
ASIDE from the occasional football chant, ask most men to stand up and sing in public and the response is not likely to be polite. But 20 weeks ago, Leigh Orhpheus Male Voice Choir did just that - and have been overwhelmed at the response they received
