News in Basildon

A 245-HOME complex built on up to 11-storeys in Basildon town centre has been approved by councillors.

The development will be on the site existing retail units at Great Oaks, which have been vacant since 2019. They will be demolished to make way for the 38metre high U-shaped building aimed at first time buyers.

A CALL has gone out to motorists to become a watchdog on local roads and help Essex Police crack down on dangerous drivers.

The Safer Essex Roads Partnership (which includes Basildon and Essex County councils) and Essex Police are hoping to stamp out poor and dangerous driving by asking: "Could you be our Extra Eyes on Essex roads?"

ESSEX Police has released upbeat news, saying crime continues to fall across the region and new figures show residents and their property continue to be safe here.

Figures for the 12 months to the end of July 2021 show the force received 4,300 fewer reports of crime across the county.

THE South Essex Wildlife Hospital is hoping regional residents will help it find more sites where it can safely release hedgehogs back into the wild.

Due to the decline in the species and the difficulties in finding suitable release sites for rehabilitated wildlife staff at the hospital at Orsett are undertaking a research survey to find out where in Essex hedgehog populations are.

RESIDENTS in Laindon took part yesterday (Thursday, 12 August) in the first of six 'Meet the Leader' events which have been scheduled by Basildon Council.

The sessions with Cllr Andrew Baggott are described as an opportunity for residents to ask any questions they have, and to hear about what's currently going on at the council, as well as plans for the future.

RECYCLING Basildon resdients are in the pink following a pro-active move by Basildon Council.

The council has acted to head off potential problems due to the popularity of its waste and recycling service.

FIREFIGHTERS rescued a woman and two children after their car overturned and went into a ditch.

It happened on the A130 Firefighters rescued a woman and two children following a road traffic collision on the A130 around noon yesterday (Wednesday, 11 August) on the southbound carriageway, close to the junction with the A127, at 12.24pm when the car ended up overturned and on its roof.

A CRICKET match in Wickford this evening took place as a tribute to a former town resident and cricket club member who died in the First World War.

The Richard Bartlett Memorial match between the youngsters of Wickford and Billericay clubs celebrated the life of a real hero who never returned to the town after volunteering and meeting his death on the battlefields of the Somme.

A GUN and drugs worth more than £200,000 were recovered in a police raid on a Basildon home.

Details of the successful operation were included ina review of recent work by Essex Police's recently created South Disruptor Team.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder a man in a Basildon park have released CCTV footage showing four people they want to interview and who may be potential witnesses.

Terry Leeks, 46, died after being stabbed in Northlands Park at around 1.30am on Sunday, 11 July.