News in Basildon

POLICE have introduced a Stop and Search order in a bid to deal with incidents of anti-social behaviour when people have been reported to have been carrying weapons.

The powers have been granted to officers in the Basildon district who were alerted to four separate incidents this evening (Monday 30 August) involving assaults and reports of weapons being seen in the Billericay area.

POLICE are appealing for information after a woman was touched inappropriately on a footpath in Laindon.

The victim, a woman in her 20s, was walking along Mayland Path at around 6.30pm on Tuesday 10 August when a cyclist she didn't know approached her. He touched her inappropriately before cycling in the direction of the Langdon Hills Tesco.

BASILDON Council has successfully prosecuted a number of residents for littering in August.

Twenty-one prosecutions have been successfully gained so far this month, after fixed penalty notices for the initial offences had been ignored or disputed. The offences came under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, where a person is guilty of an offence if they throw down, drop or otherwise deposit litter in any place to which this section applies and leaves it.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Terry Leeks are still looking to identify one person captured on CCTV near the time he was attacked.

Mr Leeks, who would have turned 47 last week, was stabbed in Northlands Park, Basildon at around 1.30am on 11 July. He later died in hospital.

BARLEYLANDS Farm Park has been named as the national winner of the Clarissa Dickson Wright Award at the 2021 Countryside Alliance Awards.

The award was created in 2013 to celebrate businesses that are enthusiastic about education and wish to ignite a passion for food. It was the farm's education programme, which sees nearly 20,000 children visit every year, that sparked particular interest from the judges.

THE opening day is drawing nearer for the new St Luke's Hospice in Thurrock – built in return for permission to build dozens of houses in the green belt.

The decision to allow the new housing estate off Lower Dunton Road near Horndon on the Hill was a highly controversial one but with many of Redrow Homes' executive houses now built and occupied, the public part of the bargain is to about to come to fruition.

LEARNER drivers have been hit by news that the driving test theory centre in Basildon is to close.

The closure is part of a national cutback which also includes shutting the centre in Harlow and the BBC has reported the fears of local instructors who say that there will now be very long waits in the area.

WORKING from home may be in vogue at the moment, but the need for office space is still there as the sale of a landmark office building in Basildon shows.

Janus House is on the Festival Leisure Park has been sold at auction for £27.8 million in a transaction between investors.

A POPULAR venue will be opening its doors to members of the NHS including staff at Basildon Hospital who will be able to enjoy a free night of entertainment – and some drinks – as the local community says thanks to key workers who helped through the Covid-19 pandemic.

The special celebration party of thanks will take place at East Thurrock Community Association on Saturday, 21 August from 7pm.

After celebrating Essex Pride this weekend, Essex police has come out with a message continuing to appeal for victims of hate crime to report it to them.

The force's LGBTQ+ Network were joined by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington and Hate Crime Officers in Chelmsford's Central Park on Saturday (21 August).