Browsing: Council News & Politics

Southend-on-Sea City Council and Anglian Water have launched a £90m, 10-year programme to eliminate sewer spills, reduce flooding and create greener public spaces, including new rain gardens and the Marine Parade Green Oasis.

The South East Essex Green Party has issued a statement expressing deep disappointment over the closure of the University of Essex Southend Campus, highlighting the impact on education, jobs and community spaces, and calling on MPs to push for proper government funding for Further and Higher Education.

Bedford’s decision to approve 1,100 new homes despite Anglian Water’s pollution warnings offers a stark warning for Southend and neighbouring areas, which together face housing targets of 51,000 new homes. Southend Against Sewage highlights decades of underinvestment and the risk of infrastructure collapse if councils continue ignoring capacity limits.

Southend is facing rising costs, transport cuts, division, and the long-term consequences of privatisation. Cllr Stuart Allen calls for fairness, investment, cooperation, and a proper long-term plan to rebuild services, protect communities, and create a better, more connected Southend.

A new state-of-the-art Community Diagnostics Centre is opening early next year in the former Argos unit at the Victoria Shopping Centre, bringing quicker diagnoses, shorter waiting times, and extended opening hours to patients across Southend.

A look back over Southend East and Rochford’s achievements in 2025, celebrating community wins, restored funding, improved youth provision, and strengthened local action — with optimism for 2026.

More than 30 young people came together for a youth-led event exploring consent, safety, and support around violence against women and girls, including a self-defence workshop and discussions led by Essex Police and local organisations.

Southend-on-Sea City Council has successfully prosecuted two private landlords for serious housing hazards including damp, mould, excess cold and fire risks, reinforcing its pledge to crack down on unsafe rental homes and urging tenants to report problems via MySouthend.

The Southend Green Party joined local residents on the High Street to call for stronger protection of the city’s remaining Green Belt and demand homes be built on brownfield sites first. Green candidates and councillors warned that proposed large-scale developments risk damaging communities and infrastructure.

Government launches a major consultation on re-organising local government in Essex, with Southend and Chelmsford leaders urging residents to have their say and highlighting the benefits of a five-council unitary model.