So, we’ve reached the eve of the royal wedding. Let me assure you from the outset this column is not going to contain any lengthy discussion of Kate Middleton’s dress, Prince William’s bald spot, or how many ethnic minorities the Duke of Edinburgh is going to offend during the ceremony (but my bet is...
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The council has dropped plans to extend sea front parking charges following complaints from residents and opposition from some senior conservative councillors. The plans to charge for parking until 9pm instead of the current 6pm would have brought in £70,000, the council claims. However, the plan has been dropped after objections were raised by...
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Today’s Echo brings food for thought. Local UKIP chairman James Moyies announced the party will not put up any candidates where the Independents are standing. Is it some kind of arranged pact? It doesn’t look like it, if Independent leader Martin Terry’s comments are anything to go by. Apparently, it’s as much of a...
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Stop Airport Extension Now (SAEN) has been granted to the right to an oral hearing of its case against the expansion of Southend Airport. Last week, the High Court refused to hear an appeal from SAEN in which the group claimed Southend Council was wrong to grant planning permission for the new runway at...
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The High Court has refused to hear an appeal brought by Stop Airport Extension Now (SAEN) against the Council for its decision to grant planning permission to London Southend Airport Company. The Council gave permission to extend the runway at Southend Airport in January 2010, and the decision was approved by Secretary of State...
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Southend Council will shed 178 jobs following spending cuts from central government. The council stated today it has attempted to reduce its spending via cutting waste but announced some job losses will be necessary. 178 posts have been identified as being at risk this year, of which 71 are currently vacant. “Big changes will...
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South East Essex Women’s Environmental Network (South East Essex WEN) will hold a workshop on Thursday at Southend library to teach others how to lobby Parliament. The two-hour workshop is part of the Houses of Parliament outreach strategy, and will teach attendees how Parliament works and how to effectively campaign for causes. The workshop...
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A candidate for the Kursaal ward seat turned down the chance to run as the Conservative contender because he found his ‘lower class background’ to be incompatible with the party’s ideology. In October 2010, local conservatives ran a vote within the Kursaal ward, which they branded an ‘X Factor style’ competition. Local residents were...
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An essay copyrighted to a pro-BNP YouTube campaigner has been reprinted in the Southend Older People’s Assembly newsletter, attributed to independent Shoeburyness councillor Mike Assenheim. The article attributed to Cllr Assenheim (pictured) is entitled ‘To all who were born in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s’ and comments on what the writer refers to...
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FOCUS: Southend Against The Cuts Debate
The Southend Against The Cuts (SATC) hustings was a funny old affair. Organised by the PCS Union, it was part cuts debate and part unofficial election hustings. This being so, there was no sign of the Tories, unsurprisingly. Why would a party with a huge majority, in the middle of a devastating round of...
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