News in Basildon

IN a bid to help combat crime in Basildon, residents are to be provided with a a range of items to help protect themselves and their property.

The Safer Basildon Partnership, the borough's community safety partnership which includes Basildon Council, Essex Fire and Rescue and Essex Police, has provided a range of crime prevention materials to be distributed across the borough via foodbanks and through local residents.

AN Essex police officer has been dismissed for breaching a number of standards of professional behaviour which amounted to gross misconduct.

A hearing into the conduct of the officer, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was told the officer had made discriminatory comments during conversations with colleagues in October 2019.

A MAN has died following a crash on the A130 to the north of Wickford last night (Monday, 12 July).

It happened at the A130 Rettendon Turnpike just before 10.30pm.

A FURTHER consultation has now been launched to seek views on proposals for separate food and garden waste collections.

Basildon Council is seeking the views of residents following a successful trial of separate collections which concluded at the start of the year. Of those who took part 88% said they would be happy for it to be introduced.

A GOOD Samaritan stepped in to rescue the American motor racing dream of a Basildon teenager.

Emily Linscott is currently racing in America in the F4 US Championship but feared her season might come to an end last weekend when the engine in her car blew in practice - and she couldn't afford to replace it.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a man who was found injured in Northlands Park in Basildon at the weekend have made a fifth arrest and have assured residents in the area that there is no wider risk to the public.

Officers were called to the park at 1.35am on Sunday where they found a man in his 40s with a stab wound to his stomach. He was taken to hospital but later died there.

FOUR people have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man in Basildon in the early hours of this morning.

A statement from police says: "We had been called to Northlands Park at 1.35am today (Sunday 11 July) to reports of a man injured.

POLICE are appealing for anyone who saw how a vehicle was being driven following an incident on the A13.

A statement from the Essex force says: "We were called at 9.20pm on Thursday (8 July) with concerns about how a silver Ford Focus was being driven on the A13 near Basildon.

CAMPAIGNERS in Wickford have warned that a battle to save an open green space in the town is far from over and they have expressed anxiety about possible changes of mind by a leading councillor.

The Wickford Save Open Space group are concerned over what appear to be changes of mind by prominent local councillor David Harrison who joined the campaigners in opposing development of Wick Green in his election campaign but now appears to be supporting the building of a care home on the site.

RESIDENTS in Wickford are remined there is just 24 hours left to complete a survey about road safety in the town and community.

Essex County Council, working with Basildon Council and local community and accessibility groups, has been consulting on plans to re-allocate road space to make more room for everybody to safely walk and cycle in Wickford.