News in Basildon and Billericay

HOUSEHOLDS in Basildon are expected to be asked to pay around an extra £10 a year for policing in the borough.

That's the likely outcome of a request by Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst who today (Thursday, 28 January) announced his budget for the coming financial year.

AN appeal to Basildon residents to help casual workers whose ability to earn has been badly damaged by Covid-19 has hit its target.

Over the festive period Basildon mayor Cllr David Burton-Sampson, used the Mayor's Charity Appeal Trust to launched the 'Keep The Lights On' appeal to support the borough's casual workers in the hospitality industry.

RESIDENTS and businesses are set to be invited to sponsor a tree when a 200-tree community orchard is planted as part of the extension to Wickford Memorial Park.

The decision to invite sponsorship for the fruit tree orchard on land previously leased to Beauchamps School was agreed by councillors at the Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee on Wednesday, 20 January.

SCHOOLCHILDREN and college students in Basildon are set to remain at home until at least March after the government announced this afternoon "it will not be possible" to reopen schools in England after the half-term break next month.

It is a move endorses by Basildon Council leader Gavin Callaghan, who publicly called for schools to shut earlier for Christmas, and has since called for schools to remain shut to help prevent the spread of the virus in such a crucial time.

BASILDON Council has defended the action of its enforcement officer who issued a fine to a Pitsea woman for feeding chips to seagulls.

Basildon Nub News [L] https://basildon.nub.news/n/chip-flinging-to-the-birds-lands-couple-in-bother-and-with-a-fine-to-pay [L+]reported yesterday (Tuesday, 26 January) on the incident when Sandra Williams picked up her fixed penalty notice for throwing chips from her car to the birds at Pipps Hill retail park.

JUST a week after the launch of Basildon Nub News, the UK's top media politician has commended the concept of bringing local news back to communities.

Minister for Media and Data John Whittingdale, whose own Maldon constituency is also served by a Nub News site, has praised Nub News for showing there is still a demand for community-focused local journalism.

A PITSEA woman has spoken of her shock after she and her husband became victims of a Basildon Council enforcement officer who has issued them with a fine for feeding chips to seagulls.

The issuing of the penalty notice was captured on video by Sandra Williams after she and her husband visited the Pipps Hill Retail Park.

THE future prospects for hundreds of employees at the Debenhams store in Basildon look bleak after it was announced today that the company's brand has been bought - but not its shops.

Fashion retailer Boohoo has bought the Debenhams name and website for £55m.

THE likelihood of council elections being held in May, when voters would also be asked to elect a police, fire and crime commissioner, continues to diminish.

Despite a call for a full postal vote to be held rather than have polling booths it seems more likely elections will be delayed until October.

TRIBUTE has been paid to RAF veteran Eddy Coull, 86, who is widely known across Basildon and south Essex for his work every year for the annual Wings appeal, following his death last night.

Mr Coull, from Basildon, was a stalwart of the RAF Association.