Archive
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Stanway: Complex plans set for public inquiry
About 500 new jobs could be created if a major development scheme gets the go-ahead. But Corporate Investment's application to transform open land in London Road, Stanway, into a new 12,000-square metre Homebase store, a 2,800-square metre garden centre
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Castle Point: Council cash axe to balance books
Council bosses in Castle Point are set to cut £309,000 from next year's budget as they bid to balance the books. However council tax bills are set to rise anyway after provisional estimates show the council is likely to get just under £7.1million from
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Angling round-up: Kevin collects Open honours
Gale force winds and driving rain couldn't stop Gloucester Park regular Kevin Williams from powering to a win at Sunday's Gloucester Park Open. Despite the atrocious conditions which saw branches broken from trees and many fishing umbrellas wrecked, Kevin
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Soccer: Ipswich match 'should never have started'
Matt Holland believes Ipswich Town's Worthington Cup farce at Maine Road - abandoned after 21 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch - should never have begun. Stewart grabbed an early headed goal for Ipswich Town before Paul Dickov levelled the tie with
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Rugby: Visiting leaders blitzed by Billericay
Billericay pulled off the result of the day in Eastern Counties One with victory over the previously unbeaten leaders. The club moved up to third spot as a result, just two points behind Upminster. Billericay started with the forwards putting early pressure
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Your guide to the South Essex live music scene
Purple Dawn for Fluid Fluid are a new, young and exciting to emerge from the Southend area and are being tipped for bigger things. Formed in the Winter of 1999, the three piece started when vocalist and lead guitarist Jamie O'Donnell started jamming with
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Maldon: Mud Race scrapped
The world famous Maldon Mud Race has been scrapped. After months of speculation, it was confirmed today (Wednesday) there is unlikely to ever be another event. The last mud race - where competitors wade through waist-high mud across the River Blackwater
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North Essex: Severe gales batter county
More than 10,000 people across Essex were left in the dark today (Wednesday) after gale force winds battered the county, bringing down powerlines and trees. Motorists faced hazardous, slow journeys to work as several roads across Essex were blocked after
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Essex: Storms batter county
A large ship ran aground off Southend yesterday (Tuesday) when its anchor failed. The bulk carrier became stuck in mud near the Zulu southern anchorage, not far from the Southend coastline, shortly after 9pm. The ship, called Nestor C, was 200m long and
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Wickford: Neglected dog eats live chicken
A chicken thought to have been eaten alive was found in the stomach of a dog that a Wickford kennel owner said was the most neglected animal he has seen. The German shepherd was knocked down by a car on Friday in Calcutta Road, Tilbury. The bitch had
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Chelmsford: New ward to ease hospital pressure
Pressure on the emergency services during the winter could be eased thanks to a new assessment and observation ward at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. The £270,000 ward, which is close to the accident and emergency department, has 22 beds. Fifteen of
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Chelmsford: Parents in appeal after son's death
The elderly parents of a man killed in a hit-and-run have made a personal appeal for the driver responsible to come forward. It is nearly six weeks since the body of Robert Brown was discovered face-down in the undergrowth at the side of the A414 near
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Colchester: Former solicitor arrested over drugs seizure
A former Colchester solicitor, whose ex-wife was battered to death by their paranoid schizophrenic son, has been arrested following Australia's largest-ever ecstasy seizure. James Neale, 54, is alleged to have masterminded the smuggling of drugs with
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Billericay: Boy, 13, severs artery in class
Extra safety measures have been put in place at a school after a pupil nearly died when he accidentally slashed his wrist on a classroom window. The 13-year-old pupil, who has not been named, was leaning against a pane of glass at Billericay School when
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Castle Point: Council set to cash in
The recovery of hundreds of thousands of pounds in council tax and business rates on empty properties has prompted Castle Point Council leaders to take on a full-time revenue inspector. Councillors agreed the permanent appointment after finance director
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Benfleet: Parking protest trader forced to close
One of Benfleet's oldest businesses has been forced to close down over a lack of parking restrictions. Les Baxter, owner of Moores shoe repair and dry cleaning shop in High Road, Benfleet, was furious at Castle Point Council leaders for installing a layby
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Harold: Victims group in urgent help plea
An urgent call for help has been made to the people of Harold by Havering Victim Support. The group provides free confidential support and information to victims of crime in Harold and the borough of Havering. According to Havering Victim Support Co-ordinator
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Writtle: Spare nursery spaces offered to villagers
Spare places at Writtle College's planned new children's nursery will be available to the villagers, it has been announced. The first 100 places will be for the children of students at the land-based technology centre in Lordship Road but any remaining
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Billericay: Families urged to beware of yuletide burglars
Billericay's Neighbourhood Watch is urging people to remember that their Christmas joy could turn into wintry misery if they do not take appropriate security measures. The area's latest Neighbourhood Watch newsletter lists all the precautions residents
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Chelmsford: Crossroads opens
A new advice and information centre has been launched by the Chelmsford Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme to give practical and emotional support to carers of all ages. The centre, at 123 New London Road, Chelmsford, was officially opened in a ceremony
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Golf: Stewart's number one - twice over
At the tender age of 11 Stewart Nicholson has achieved twice in the space of three months what many golfers will never achieve in a lifetime - a hole-in-one. Stewart has been playing the sport for little more than a year and has already earned a handicap
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Ongar, North Weald: Police issue warning after conman strikes
Police are urging householders in Ongar and North Weald to be on the lookout for conmen posing as workmen or water board officials. The warning from Sgt John Cousins of Epping Police follows an incident in Longfields in Ongar in which a conman called
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Billericay: Cyber cafe could be net gain for town
A pioneering plan to bring the latest technology into Billericay's High Street is being developed by the Town Council. The council has been pushing for more imaginative town centre projects for some time and is now leading a bid to establish a new cyber
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Harwich: Boxing Day party for coma victim
A big Boxing Day bash is on the cards for an accident victim who earlier this year was in a coma and had to have part of his brain removed. Aarron Todd was last week moved near to his Harwich home from the Homerton Hospital in London where he was receiving
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Soccer: Rain ruins Billericay hopes again...
Last night's (Tuesday's) local soccer programme suffered a familiar watery grave as the wettest winter of all time continued to create havoc with football surfaces. Billericay Town, Canvey Island, Great Wakering Rovers and Bowers United all had matches
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Swimming: Bonnie's victory boosts Phoenix
Basildon Phoenix Swimming Club turned in a tremendous performance against some of the top south-east clubs in the prestigious Barking sprints. Killerwhales, Romford and Thurrock were all in attendance at the event, but the fledgling Phoenix club made
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Clacton, Harwich: Police rethink over call service
Phone calls to Harwich Police Station could be automatically diverted to Clacton as part of a centralisation of police services in Tendring. And Harwich Police Station may no longer be manned 24 hours a day by civilian staff under proposals due to be
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Essex: Crackdown on way over hare-coursing
Police have warned of tough measures against illegal hare-coursing as protests flare against the activity. After three men were chased off a Tollesbury farm for the controversial hunting, Sgt Richard Miller, of Maldon Police, said it was unacceptable
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Essex: Hollywood star with county links now a novelist
Hollywood actress, sex symbol, the wife of a mid-Essex peer - now author too. Jamie Lee Curtis can add successful children's author to her long list of credits. Lady Haden-Guest of Saling, as the villagers of Great Saling, near Braintree, know her, has
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Southend: Millennium clock rings in New Year
This is the final design of the controversial millennium clock which is set to chime in Southend High Street before the year is out. Foundations for the Southend Council-funded clock have been cast and power support has been laid into the ground outside
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Castle Point: Hell's Granny stands for MP
Another ex-councillor today threw her hat into the election ring and declared that she was considering standing as Castle Point's MP - for the Hell's Grannies Party. Audrey Gibbs, made the shock revelation after former member Nik Searle yesterday (Tuesday
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Harwich, Manningtree: Seven schools without heads
Seven schools in the Harwich and Manningtree areas are still without a headteacher. A new head must be in place when the schools re-open in January and two others will not have heads until after Easter. Fiona Knapp starts at Brooklands Primary School,
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Chelmsford: Plenty of parking for Christmas shoppers
Christmas shoppers in Chelmsford are being urged to use car parking spaces just minutes away from the main shopping areas to prevent queues. There are more than 8,000 spaces in the town and drivers are being urged to use the Saturday car parks as alternatives
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Maldon: Recycling targets 'too tough'
Maldon district will have to aim to recycle 33 per cent of its household waste by 2003/2004 and 40 per cent by 2006/2007. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has set new targets following the Government's new national waste strategy
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Southend: Afghan Reza's fear of arrest at home
A revealing insight into the lives of asylum seekers who have fled to Southend is to be shown on television. Desperately Seeking Asylum, will be shown on BBC 2 tomorrow (Thursday) and follows the lives of three asylum seekers striving for refuge in the
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Castle Point: Charity bids to open drop-in centre
Bosses of a national mental health charity are on course to set up their first Castle Point headquarters in offices on Canvey. The National Schizophrenia Fellowship wants to convert ground floor offices in Denham Road into a drop-in centre. The new centre
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Colchester: Objection to toilets closure
Plans of how savings of £700,000 could be made by Colchester Council have been discussed by councillors. Members of the performance panel discussed the findings of the budget review panel when they met last night but a final decision will be made on Monday
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South Essex: Watchdog lobbies MPs in survival battle
The fight to save the patients' watchdog body which covers the Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford area is set to be taken all the way to Westminster. The Government has announced plans to abolish all Community Health Councils (CHCs) as part of its wide
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Marks Tey: Pregnant driver injured
A pregnant woman driver and another motorist were taken to hospital after an accident on the A12 which caused delays to evening commuters. There were delays on both sides of the carriageway after the collision on the London-bound track of the road, near
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Pitsea: Pop star's KO at Wembley gig
Scott Robinson, one fifth of pop sensation Five, cut his head open while performing at Wembley. In August Scott, from Pitsea, returned to Britain from a promotional tour of Asia suffering from exhaustion while in October he pulled out of a gig in Holland
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Prittlewell: Playgroup toys are destroyed by vandals
Vandals destroyed £2,500 of toys in an arson attack on a pre-school playgroup. Firefighters were called to the blaze at Ring O'Roses storage shed, at the back of the Royal Naval Association building, in East Street, Prittlewell. It took two hours to put
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General: Fixture backlog continues
Outdoor sports in Essex are facing a massive backlog of fixtures, and it can all be blamed on the rain soaked, mud-filled and waterlogged pitches. One had always thought that cricket was the only sport where one heard of 'rain stopping play' but our local
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Soccer: U's boss faces headache
Manager Steve Whitton's plans to field a strong squad at Luton Town have been hit by illness and suspension. With three days to go to the Second Division clash at Kenilworth Road, two Colchester United players are already definitely ruled out while another
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Earls Colne: Back home after shooting horror
A holidaymaker who was shot at point-blank range as he tried to fight off an armed robber has insisted: "I'm no hero". Les Abbie was shot in the mouth by a drug-crazed gunman in his hotel room on the holiday isle of Barbados. His wife Karen was also shot
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Castle Point: Rebel's bid for Parliament
Rebel ex-Labour councillor Nik Searle is planning a surprise challenge to become Castle Point's next MP. Mr Searle, 53, confirmed he had been approached to join the race to become an independent constituency MP at the next General Election. He has refused
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Earls Colne: Holiday couple shot in the face
A holiday in paradise ended in horror for a husband and wife when a drug-crazed gunman burst into their hotel bedroom and shot them both in the head. Karen and Les Abbie were in the Caribbean with friends on what should have been the holiday of a lifetime
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Braintree: Shop is forced to quit High Street
A high street store has blamed the redevelopment of Braintree for its move to the outskirts of town. Furniture seller Glasswells is looking to sell its High Street store due to a fall in business. A spokesman for the company said the drop in sales had
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Shoebury: Big push for new homes
The first detailed planning applications for a housing scheme on the site of the former Shoebury Garrison have been submitted to Southend Council. If successful, the new scheme will create 112 homes - 40 new homes and 72 refurbished ones - which will
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Clacton: Bypass landslips 'No danger to motorists'
Concern has been expressed over major subsidence along a new bypass. There have now been four landslips in the same section of the £12 million Little Clacton bypass in just over two weeks. Temporary concrete safety barriers have been put up on the new
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Jaywick: Family's tribute to Toni
A distraught family has spoken about their loving, caring daughter and sister who died. Toni Mills, 24, of Essex Avenue, Jaywick, died at Colchester General Hospital after suffering head injuries in an incident in Jaywick. Toni had a four-year-old son
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Essex: Historic church role for Eileen
A Benfleet woman will be one of the first lay people to be made a canon at Chelmsford Cathedral early next year. Eileen French of Thundersley Park Road will be appointed along with one other woman and two men who are all ordinary members of the public
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Colchester: Santa stoned by gang
A gang of youths attacked a charity collecting procession - hitting Father Christmas with a hurled rock. King Coel's Kittens, which collects funds for the town's needy, yesterday cancelled last night's (Tuesday's) collection amid safety fears. Their Christmas
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Essex: New handbook gives hot tips to elderly on keeping warm
A special handbook advising older people on where to find help with heating and health problems this winter has been launched. Titled Keep Warm Keep Well, the free guide is the product of a partnership between Government health departments and charities
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Soccer: Woodman sticks with U's
Goalkeeper Andy Woodman has handed Colchester United boss Steve Whitton another boost by agreeing to extend his loan period. But there was bad news awaiting the U's former Ipswich Town defender Adam Tanner. In-form 29-year-old Brentford and former Crystal
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Rowing: Brierley a silver star at Reading
Braintree athlete David Brierley has won a silver medal in the world's biggest ever indoor rowing competition. Brierley, 55, won silver at the annual PPP healthcare British Indoor Rowing Championship at the Rivermead Leisure Complex at Reading in the
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Braintree: Choose a name for new park
Name your new park is the message to people in the Braintree district. The Tabor Triangle Site in the town centre will soon become a park for Braintree and its communities, and it will have several new art-works that will take the form of four metre long
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Soccer: Southend win Essex Derby
Southend United found their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as they beat local rivals Canvey Island 2-1 during Sunday's FA Cup second round derby which gripped south Essex. A capacity crowd braved driving winds and biting rain at Roots Hall as goals
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Rugby: Andrew gets called up by the Exiles
Andrew Verspeak, a lower college student at the Boswells School in Springfield, was selected to represent the 'Scottish Exiles' in a rugby match on Tuesday. The match was to be staged at Richmond Park in London and the opposition is the Welsh Under 18
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Colchester: Experts called in on retirement issue
Local authority experts could be drafted in as part of a desperate bid to resolve the crisis surrounding Colchester Council's chief wanting to retire. A move by John Cobley, the council's chief executive, to take early retirement was stopped in its tracks
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Westcliff: Family fears for patient
This is the first picture released of Westcliff resident Douglas Hudson who went missing from Rochford Hospital ten days ago. Mr Hudson, 52, disappeared from the hospital on December 3 when he left without his medication and police and his family are
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Brentwood: Town chief wages war on pub hours
Angry residents have received backing from the Chairman of the Brentwood Town Forum in their battle to prevent a High Street pub opening until 2am. The Hobgoblin asked for longer opening hours in September, but Brentwood Borough Council's Licensing Committee
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Ongar: Spray-can vandals target tree
One of Ongar's landmark trees has been sprayed with blue and silver graffiti in an act of thoughtless vandalism. The damage to the copper beech tree which spreads its branches over Ongar's Pleasance Garden was discovered last week by local parish councillor
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Brentwood: Burglars in £21,000 raids
Burglars who struck at two Brentwood homes netted hauls of jewels and cash valued at around £21,000. The first incident was in Ingatestone. Raiders forced a downstairs kitchen window to get in. They then collected a number of rings and 32 CD's before
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Brentwood: School mourns death of popular student
Shocked staff and students at Brentwood School are in mourning this week following the sudden death of one its most likeable and active students. Lauren Bronka, 17, of Ingrave died last Wednesday after failing to recover from a series of asthma attacks
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Braintree: Shopping village to grow
A thriving shopping village has been given the go-ahead to expand - and the growth could bring hundreds of new jobs to Braintree. The expansion at the Freeport Outlet Village includes a £20 million leisure complex with a 12-screen cinema, bowling alley
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Basildon: Brute beat girlfriend to death
A man who beat his girlfriend to death during a drunken row is starting six years behind bars. David Bamber, 36, denied murder but admitted the manslaughter of Carol Baker, 44. At Chelmsford Crown Court, he was sentenced to six years in prison with a
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Soccer: Powling at Harwich
Harwich and Parkeston manager Andy Clark has added Richie Powling to his coaching staff in a bad to change the Jewson League club's flagging fortunes. Former Harwich and Braintree Town manager Powling took Sudbury as far as the second round of the FA
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Thurrock: 'Don't rob the elderly'
A group which supports the victims of crime pleaded with thieves to stop picking on the elderly. It follows a series of thefts and burglaries which have left the elderly victims devastated. Manager of Thurrock Victim Support, Arthur Welsh, said: "In the
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Harwich: Just one client on foot ferry
The winter season started slowly for the Harwich Foot Ferry with just one passenger braving the trip across to Felixstowe. Ferry man Chris Spraggons opened the winter weekend service last weekend, running a scheduled route between Harwich and Suffolk
