News in Basildon and Billericay

BASILDON Council has announced that it will not be asking for any increase in the share it takes from local people's council tax.

Despite the financial implications that Covid-19 has had on the authority council leader Cllr Gavin Callaghan says its precept will be frozen for the second consecutive year.

SUPPORT continues to grow in South Essex for a company's plans to create a new tram network connecting regional centres like Basildon, Thurrock and Canvey Island with north Kent via a new tunnel under the Thames.

For the past year our sister site Thurrock Nub News has been following the development of the cross Thames tramway being proposed by Thames Gateway Tramlink to be known as KenEx.

A TEAM of three new Macmillan support workers have taken up positions at Basildon Hospital alongside three busy cancer teams at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, helping cancer patients to access the help and support that they need.

Based at Basildon Hospital, the Macmillan support workers will contact all lung, breast and urology cancer patients within two weeks of receiving their diagnosis to evaluate their medical, practical and emotional needs.

FIREFIGHTERS rescued a woman after a road traffic collision close to the Sadlers Farm Roundabout near Basildon yesterday (Saturday, 16 January) at 9.18pm.

On arrival, crews from Basildon and Grays reported that a car and lorry had collided and a woman was trapped in her car.

A MASS Covid-19 vaccination centre that could offer the jab to hundreds of people a day and will be available to anyone living within a 45-minute drive will be opened in Runwell, Wickford, tomorrow (Monday, 18 January).

The new centre is one of 10 new super hubs announced by the Government this weekend and is the first of its kind in Essex. It comes in addition to the local sites already in operation at the Nevendon Centre in Wickford, Emmanuel Archer Hall in Billericay and Holy Trinity RC Parish Church Hall and George Hurd Centre, Basildon. Vaccinations are also being given at Basildon & Thurrock Hospital.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a life-changing accident caused by a dog whose legs are mounted on a wheeled mobility aid.

It happened on Clay Hill Road, Basildon, near the junction with Swan Mead at 4.30pm on 10 December, 2020.

POLICE are looking to trace witnesses to a robbery in Basildon on Saturday, 9 January.

Three men jumped in front of the 35-year-old man as he rode his bike through the underpass between Long Lynderswood and Westgate Shopping Centre at 8am.

THE Met office has given a warning that Basildon could be hit be heavy snow over the weekend, with the main period being from 3am tomorrow Saturday, 16 January) to 8pm.

A yellow warning for the region has been given.

A VICTIM of sexual abuse has thanked Essex Police after a Basildon man was convicted of child abuse that took place over a three year period 30 years ago.

Laurence Bourne abused a child on numerous occasions between 1989 and 1992 in Basildon and the offences came to light when they were reported to police in April 2019.

AN new area of public open space is set to become a centre for sustained environmental activity in a plan described as 'brilliant' and a real boost to local people's well-being.

At Basildon Council's Neighbourhood's and Public Spaces Committee next week (Wednesday, 20 January) councillors will be presented with an update on the planned extension to Wickford Memorial Park.