News in Basildon

FOUR men have been charged, a firearm, cash, and tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs have been seized during warrants by Essex Police's Disruptor team.

Officers carried out the warrants at a number of locations in Basildon yesterday (Tuesday 27 July). During the operation they seized a firearm, a four figure-sum of cash, and cocaine and cannabis with a street value of £200,000.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Terry Leeks in Basildon have made another two arrests.

Mr Leeks, 46, was found after being stabbed in Northlands Park in the early hours of Sunday, 11 July. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries.

BASILDON Council leader Cllr Andrew Baggott will be holding open meetings for residents in each of the borough's five towns over the next few months.

The 90 minute sessions are described as an opportunity for residents to meet the new council leader and ask any questions they may have, as well as an opportunity for residents to find out about the work that has been done in recent months. The sessions will feature an introduction from Cllr Baggot before an open question and answers session with the audience.

A NEW intake of more than 120 trainee doctors will help the local hospitals continue to provide excellent and safe care for all its patients.

After completing medical school, junior doctors have to complete a two-year foundation programme at hospitals, where they experience multiple areas of practice. The first year doctors are known as F1s and the second years as F2s.

LAPTOPS and computers donated have started making a difference to children across the district.

The council initially donated over 100 computer devices, which has now become nearly 300, to the 'Every Child Online' organisation to distribute exclusively to schools across the borough.

THURROCK planning councillors voted unanimously to throw out an application to build 60 homes in the green belt on the border of the borough.

At their recent meeting members debated the application to build new homes on the site of Greenwise Nurseries on Vange Park Road, Vange, close to the border with Basildon near the Five Bells roundabout.

SOUTH Basildon's MP has welcomed a new initiative offering opportunity to young people and says he is looking forward to the launch of a pilot scheme in the region.

'Changing Futures' is a government led project that aims to change systems and improve services for people who experience multiple disadvantage including homelessness, substance misuse, poor mental health, domestic abuse, or contact with the criminal justice system.

A SOUTH Essex hospice charity has places remaining for the popular Royal Parks Half Marathon event taking place in the capital this October.

Havens Hospices has charity places remaining for the 13.1 mile route due to take place on Sunday, 10 October across four of London's Royal Parks - Hyde Park, Green Park, St James' Park and Kensington Gardens.

THE amount of violent crime in Basildon and wider Essex has gone down, says the county's police force.

A statement from the force says: "We're relentlessly driving down violent crime and are working hard to keep it that way through enforcement, education and intervention.

BASILDON councillors have voted to revert to the leadership and cabinet form of governance within the authority, only four years after rejecting it.

The council plans to adopt the system on May 26 next year, the earliest date possible without holding a referendum.