Archive
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Why £26million Firstsite gallery could become a 24-hour venue
THE Firstsite gallery could become Colchester’s first 24-hour venue. Bosses at the £26million visual arts factility have applied for an open-all-hours premises licence for entertainment. It would allow the venue to host events such as boxing and wrestling
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150m Euro windfarm bonanza for Harwich?
A SPANISH windfarm company is eyeing Harwich as a possible site for a 150million Euro turbine factory. Gamesa wants to build a manufacturing plant specialising in blade production and windmill assembly that will create more than 600 jobs. Harwich is
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Neil's special little girl - born after he had bowel cancer treatment
A CANCER survivor who was told he would probably never be able to father a child has become a dad against all the odds. Neil Fitch, 30, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 27. After seven months of chemotherapy, doctors told him he was unlikely
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Tiptree: Man due in court on driving charges
A man is due to appear in court for driving dangerously after drinking three times the legal limit of alcohol. The 51-year-old from Tiptree is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates Court on February 17 charged with dangerous driving and drink driving
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Free advice on meningitis
I am writing on behalf of the Meningitis Trust in response to news that Sapper Ashley Hall, who lost both his legs and suffered other serious injuries in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, and his brother Matt have contracted viral meningitis and are
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Bereaved have right to put chimes in town’s cemetery
I was absolutely horrified to hear Colchester Cemetery is planning to ban chimes and other decorations being hung from trees there. The news stated, and I quote, “it looks like Poundland”. What an offensive and insulting comment both to the
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Colchester secondary school to close in 2014
A COLCHESTER secondary school is to close in 2014. Bosses at Essex County Council have decided they want to close Alderman Blaxill school, in Shrub End, despite a petition calling on them to let the school’s leadership decide if it closed attracting
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It’s why women are superior to us men
The feature headlined “The sexism storm: What’s your view?” (Gazette, January 31) invited comment, so I will have my pennyworth. Wartime experience taught us there are many things women could do, and indeed did do, just as well as men – sometimes
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Our children love Hamford
I write to express my dismay with the media coverage of the latest Ofsted report on Hamford Primary School, at Walton. Both my children attend Hamford and have loved every minute there. The staff work very hard to provide a welcoming and stimulating
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Parking idea is just hot air
Having read about the scheme started in Brightlingsea to improve parking around the town, I have to let you know it has not improved one bit. For the councillors to slap themselves on the back and trumpet how good it is, in my opinion, is completely
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Here’s how to close the pharmacy gap
I am writing with regards to the article in the Gazette (January 26) on pharmacy provision. May I make clear the local Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) did recognise a gap in service only in the St Anne’s/Hythe area of Colchester. It is
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Give cyclists wider berth
Has anyone on the council ever tried to exercise their “priority” over a cyclist? I have, on pedestrian crossings when all cars have stopped, but not cyclists, and on pavements not marked as cycle paths. It can be a very dangerous and painful
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We’re not fooled by the Big Society council gimmick
A huge number of Tendring residents are now being savagely squeezed between the disproportionate cuts unfairly imposed on the district by the Conservative-led Government and the inadequacies of their Conservative-led council in anticipating
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Police hunt attackers of delivery man
Police investigating a serious attack on a takeaway delivery man have renewed their appeal for information. The man, 42, from Colchester, was kicked, bitten, punched and stamped on by two men when delivering food on New Year’s Eve. The
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Wallace and Gromit inspired kids’ animations
PRIMARY school pupils had a cracking day trying to make Wallace & Gromit-style animations. St Helena School, in Sheepen Road, Colchester, invited pupils from primary schools across the town for the chance to make a stop motion movie. St Helena School
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Kate honours her brother at memorial
A SISTER has returned her brother’s coveted maroon beret to his memorial in Afghanistan. Private Joe Whittaker, of 4th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, was attached to Colchester’s 2 Para when he was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2008. Sister
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Thieves steal from second village grave
A widow is angry and upset at thieves who have targeted two graves at a cemetery – one of them her husband’s final resting place. Deborah Ward, 46, of West End Road, Tiptree, was distraught to find a grey granite vase missing from the grave of husband
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Fined for fighting on street
A JUDGE reprimanding two soldiers for a drunken brawl told them to stick to fighting for their country rather than fighting in the streets. Serving soldiers, Tommy Tucker and Hal Stewart, were on a two-week break from a tour of Afghanistan when they
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Emergency repairs to begin on sea front
AN EMERGENCY repair scheme costing £28,000 is set to be carried out on the Lower Promenade in Clacton. Large cracks appeared in the wall beneath the ladies’ toilets between Pier Gap and the Atlanta Cafe at the end of last year. A section
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Former Colchester-based soldiers investigated for allegedly assaulting Iraqi police.
ALLEGATIONS of abuse and assault by Colchester-based soldiers are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence. Detectives are carrying out a criminal investigation following claims that Redcaps hospitalised four Iraqi policeman after beating them.
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Last year Matt was an unknown, now he’s up for a Brit!
THIS time last year a little-known singer called Matt Cardle was picking up his first music award. The Seven Summers frontman received a mid Essex music magazine’s Best Band accolade. Fast forward 12 months and the former painter and decorator has won
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I feel let down and have been ill with worry... I’ll miss the job
SACKED dinnerlady Carol Hill has said she will never return to her previous profession and is now beginning to rebuild her life and move on. She said while she felt “let down” by the legal system, she had to accept its decision. On Wednesday, the
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Clarke determined to preserve U's play-off dreams
Nathan Clarke is determined not to allow Colchester United's promotion dreams fade away. The U's lost further ground in League One, following their 1-0 defeat at Hartlepool United. Colchester now find themselves six points off the play-off places.
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We’ll boycott town, says fined coach boss
A COACH company boss says he won’t be bringing any more customers on shopping trips to Colchester after being fined on a parking ticket technicality. Stuart Rogers, of Thompson Coaches, based in Framlingham, Suffolk, said a warden slapped a £25 fine
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Fears new cycle routes will put people in danger
NEW cycle routes have been described as “sheer madness” amid fears they will put people in danger. Colchester has been designated a cycle town and work has begun on a £126,000 route along Crouch Street. But critics have complained about so much being
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£20,000 solar panels promise sunny future
YOUNGSTERS at a Colchester primary school will be hoping the sun shines on them. That’s because £20,000 worth of solar panels are being installed on the roof of Lexden Primary School after a parent won a competition. Ray Parker, whose eight-year-old
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Gazette Treats for Troops claims award
THE Gazette’s Treats for Troops scheme has been named Community Campaign of the Year at the EDF Energy East of England Media Awards. More than 100 businesses signed up to the campaign to offer discounts for troops from Colchester-based 16 Air Assault
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Woman's horror burns at hands of carers
A DISABLED woman has won damages after carers lowered her into a scalding bath and mistook her distress for an epileptic fit. Jeanette De Bono suffered burns to 40 per cent of her body when she was bathed in water above 50 degrees centigrade at Wellcare
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Future of Colchester hotel secured
A HOTEL in Colchester has been saved after the firm which owns it was bought out. Butterfly Hotels, which runs ten homes including the Ramada Colchester, Ardleigh Junction, went into administration last week. Akkeron Hotels bought the group for an undisclosed