BASILDON's Mayor has expressed concerns about possible dangers from an e-scooter hire scheme that is being trialed in Basildon.

The Spin company which provides the scooters for hire along pre-designated routes across the town when riders book, pick up and leave them at set points, is working in conjunction with Essex County Council to test out the hire scheme in Basildon, Chelmsford, Clacton and Colchester.

The County Council says each trial will start small-scale and be constantly evaluated before any expansion takes place across the county. It says it wants everyone to give their views and experience during the trials and will monitor and adjust each pilot trial as it progresses.

Basildon's Mayor, Cllr David Burton-Sampson, has already made his view known.

He says the e-scooter trial needs a "major overhaul" amid fears it is "only a matter of time" before a serious crash occurs. Cllr Burton-Sampson says he has seen two people using one scooter, he hasn't seen any riders wearing helmers and the e-scooters are being left in dangerous places on the pavements.

He added: "I'm surprised a serious crash hasn't been caused by the e-scooters already. There's a reason why these things are usually illegal.

"People are using them on the pavements, which isn't in the rules. It's too dangerous to ride the scooters on the road.

"Every time I see people using them, rules are being broken each time."

Details of the trial scheme and where you can use e-scooters in Basildon can be found via [l}https://www.spin.app/how-to-ride-in-basildon [L+]this link.[.L]