News in Basildon

DESPITE forecast earlier today (Saturday, 23 January) weather experts in Essex says the region might have a 'light dusting' at worst tomorrow but Basildon is unlikely to have any problems with snow.

This evening's run Met Office data shows a band of light snow north of the M4 tomorrow afternoon that could affect central and western parts of Essex.

THE efforts of firefighters and staff across Essex Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) to combat the impact of coronavirus have been praised following an inspection.

The service was visited by members of the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in October 2020 as part of an inspection into how fire and rescue services were responding to Covid-19, as they continued to face challenges during a difficult period.

DISCUSSIONS will continue on Tuesday (26 January) about the transfer of ownership of Basildon's Town Centre Management company.

A meeting on the Town Centres Revival Committee of Basildon Council will hear a report from assistant director Tomasz Kozlowski about the negotiations between the Council and London-based BTCM Ltd.

WICKFORD High Street is to be closed on Saturdays for a six month trial period.

At Basildon Council's recent Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee councillors voted in favour of plans to try out the initiative.

SOUTH Basildon MP Stephen Metcalfe has welcomed the acceleration of the coronavirus vaccine rollout in the Mid and South Essex region.

80,211 vaccinations have been administered, as part of plans to vaccinate the top four priority groups by mid-February. In the East of England, 377,552 people have received a vaccine, with 429,864 doses administered in total across the area.

THE death has been confirmed of celebrity, nightclub owner, property developer and businessman Mick Norcross.

Police and emergency services have been at his Bulphan home near Basildon. Essex Police said in a statement: "We were called to an address in Brentwood Road, Bulphan shortly before 3.15pm on Thursday 21 January.

BASILDON Council's Pride teams have been praised for the their hard work in making a differenceby tidying and cleaning throughout the borough last year.

The teams, which specialise in a variety of horticultural and cleansing duties, carried out 85 area clean ups, clearing more than 45 tonnes of waste and recycling in 2020.

A MISSING girl may be somewhere in the Basildon area as police appeal for knowledge of her whereabouts and express concern for her safety.

Officers are appealing for information to help find 15 year-old Danielle King who is missing from the Braintree area.

BASILDON Council is to step in and take additional action in a bid to reduce levels of abandoned shopping trolleys in the borough.

At a meeting of the Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee last night (Wednesday, 20 January), councillors agreed for a letter signed by the Chairman and the council's Chief Executive to be sent to supermarkets for them to take more action in retrieving abandoned trolleys.

A BASILDON resident has been found guilty of fly-tipping after dumping multiple items including a fridge freezer and seven bags of soil on council land in front of their property.

Georgina Buckley, 26, of Eastbrooks Place, appeared at Southend Magistrates' Court on 15 January and pleaded guilty to a charge of dumping controlled waste under s33 of the Environmental Protection Act.