Browsing: Council News & Politics

Southend will unite this November to mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day with a city-wide display of civic pride, parades, and solemn reflection.

Southend Pier has been transformed into a sea of red as more than 110,000 handmade poppies form the UK’s largest Remembrance art installation, honouring those who served and celebrating the unity of a global community effort.

Concerns are growing across Rochford District as residents react to the scale of proposed housing developments that could see large areas of Green Belt released for construction. With missing evidence and mounting pressure from government, communities are calling for transparency and a balanced, evidence-based approach to planning.

Cllr Julie Gooding explains why Rochford District Council cannot deliver infrastructure before development and calls on agencies like the NHS to unlock over £1 million in held funds to support vital community services.

Anna Firth, former MP for Southend West, calls for an end to animal experimentation in the UK, highlighting that over 2.7 million animals are still used annually. She argues that animal-free research not only spares suffering but offers better human outcomes and economic growth.

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Southend-on-Sea City Council has successfully prosecuted a local man for blue badge fraud, reinforcing its commitment to tackling misuse of the system and protecting support for those who genuinely need it. Innocent Kadowonda, 40, of Gordon Road, Southend-on-Sea, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a disabled person’s parking badge and theft after being caught using a badge issued to a local care organisation. He was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £714.

The Leigh-on-Sea Business Expo 2025 was hailed a success, bringing together local entrepreneurs and business professionals to network, collaborate, and celebrate Southend’s thriving business community.

The Council is updating residents on the action taken at the Metrow Foods site following a fire, including serving an Abatement Notice and next steps to resolve environmental and public health concerns caused by the damaged warehouse.

Southend Green Party has unveiled its first eight candidates for the 2026 local elections, marking the beginning of its largest campaign to date. The announcement coincides with national membership surpassing 140,000, now higher than the Conservative Party.

Southend-on-Sea City Council’s new recycling and waste service launches next week in partnership with SUEZ. The initiative aims to make recycling simpler and streets cleaner, with around 60,000 homes switching to wheelie bins and some seeing collection day changes.