SENIOR officers at Castle Point Council have proved their commitment to saving public funds by taking a pay cut. Four of the council’s top officials have accepted voluntary pay cuts of between 2.5 per cent and 5 per cent this year that will amount to
AN ARMED robber who held up a convenience store was captured on camera. Police have issued a CCTV still of the suspect who brandished a gun at Costcutters, in London Road, Westcliff, and threatened the staff. He took the till, which
A PENSIONER has been threatened with bailiffs by a phone firm – despite the fact they owe her money. For six months, 82-year-old Margaret Sparkes has suffered stress, anxiety and endless phone calls from Talk Talk. But she was not prepared for the latest
VANDALS in Shoebury are putting lives at risk by turning on emergency fire hydrants. Fire crews have been called out twice in the last week to attend incidents where hydrants have been turned on for people to play in to cool off in the warm weather.
SOUTHEND United’s new manager Paul Sturrock does not feel he is facing an impossible job at Roots Hall. Sturrock currently has just nine first team players and is unable to bolster his squad because of a transfer embargo. The club are
A COLLEGE boss claims youngsters from poorer backgrounds have been “neglected” in Southend because of its grammar schools. Neil Bates, chief executive of Prospects Learning, which co-runs Futures College, in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend,
An individual entered my garden and walked 50ft up my path and stole two heavy ceramic pots. Why? Those planters which were so thoughtlessly taken were given to me in a tribute to my husband, by his work colleagues. I lost my husband tragically
I was surprised to read (June 28) how FitzWimarc School headteacher Jim Fuller had “turned the school around, tightened up on discipline and boosted standards”. Having served at the school for more than 20 years, I know from first hand experience
It is welcome news Basildon Hospital is making improvements, but is the Care Quality Commission doing enough? I recently had an outpatients appointment and had to wait two hours. Looking at the delay boards moving from 30/45/60/90 minutes made
Back in May 2007, many Canvey inhabitants were objecting to Calor’s application to build two storage tanks on its island site. These tanks were huge and good old George Whatley, leader of protest campaign, had discovered each would have been
While it seems sensible to abolish the default pension age to allow people to choose when they retire, I have reservations that by increasing the pension payment age the country’s benefit budget will be reduced, unless we are in a period of full
Sylvia Brown was proud to be British after watching the homecoming parade of the Royal Anglian Regiment (June 22), calling those who took part angels. Unfortunately these brave soldiers are not making our lives safe. The reverse is true. I can
DARTH Vader and his Storm Troopers joined with a group of Ewoks and other Star Wars characters at Adventure Island yesterday, to raise money for a medic injured after being hit with a quad bike. The Southend medic was dealing with a car crash victim
RISING star Josh Dubovie has joined forces with St Luke’s Hospice – by becoming the charity’s celebrity patron and backing its Make St Luke’s Shine appeal. The 19-year-old Laindon lad, who represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in
ARMED police were called to a house in Southend after a man threatened to shoot someone. Officers surrounded the address in Heygate Avenue following an emergency call in the early hours of Sunday morning. They arrived at just after midnight to arrest
ARMED police were called to a pub following reports of a mass brawl which had spilled into the street. A team of officers arrived at the Woodcutters Arms, in Eastwood Road North, Eastwood, where people had been fighting in the carpark and slinging
AN ELDERLY woman's little Yorkshire Terrier was mauled to death by a dog which forced its way into her garden. The 82-year-old woman, who lives in Stornoway Road, was devastated to find the pet she had owned for 12 years had been killed on
CAMPAIGNERS want to know why Castle Point Council cannot afford to save Canvey’s much-loved paddling pool, despite its healthy finances. In January, the council said it was too costly to pay £56,000 to bring the seafront tidal pool up to health and safety
FANS of French boules have thanked Basildon Council for agreeing to build the district’s first petanque square. The facility is being dug at Lake Meadows Park, off Radford Crescent, Billericay. Petanque is played by over 17 million people in France,
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a car failed to stop and ended up smashing through a fence on Leigh cliffs. At 11pm last night the silver Mondeo was spotted by police with no lights on. When officers tried to pull the car over it failed
A POPULAR fishmonger is furious after the council asked him to submit a planning application for his mobile fish van. Nigel Cousins, 41, has been selling fresh fish from his converted Renault van outside the Knightswick Shopping Centre, in Canvey town
ADAM Barrett has described Steve Tilson’s departure as a “big loss” for Southend United. Barrett spent six seasons working alongside Tilson before having his contract cancelled by mutual consent a fortnight ago. But the former Blues
A CONVICTED drug dealer has become the second resident to be evicted from his crack den house. John Newton, 33, was forced to leave his privately rented flat at 21 Wayletts, in Laindon, after it was officially branded a crack house by a judge yesterday
ALAN McCormack believes it will not be long before Steve Tilson finds himself back in football. The Irish midfielder, who left Blues a fortnight ago, insists Tilson remains one of the best managers in the game. And he is certain he will soon be snapped
CANVEY’S roads will not cope if 2,500 more homes are built on the island, campaigners have warned. Members of the Canvey Green Belt Campaign and opposition councillors rubbished Castle Point Council’s claims that in future, significantly more residents
AS EXCLUSIVELY revealed in Monday's Echo, Paul Sturrock has this morning been confirmed as Southend United's new manager. The former Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle boss has signed a three year contract and takes over from Steve Tilson
BLUES right-back Simon Francis admitted to being “really gutted” by the departure of Steve Tilson. Francis was signed by Tilson from Sheffield United in the summer of 2006. And he cannot believe he has now left the club. “It really
