Browsing: Local News

Southend City BID is inviting local retailers to take part in this year’s Christmas in the City celebrations by joining the Elf on a Shop Shelf Trail. Running from 15th November to Christmas Eve, ten shops will receive a festive elf to display and be promoted as part of this magical citywide trail.

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’s city centre has been transformed this November with stunning poppy artwork created by CHALK of the TOWN and commissioned by Southend City BID. Local businesses volunteered their windows for the moving tribute, forming a remembrance trail that complements the breathtaking ‘Poppies on the Pier’ installation.

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.

Residents in Southend’s conservation areas are voicing frustration over the city council’s decision to introduce multiple wheelie bins, arguing it undermines long-standing conservation rules designed to protect the city’s historic charm.

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.

Southend police officers spent over 5,400 hours on high-visibility patrols this summer, making 105 arrests and ensuring a safe, positive atmosphere across the city’s busiest areas.

ChatGPT said:

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.

London Southend Airport is celebrating its biggest winter schedule in six years, offering over 360,000 seats and six brand-new destinations, including Barcelona, Berlin, and Lapland. The expanded network runs from November to March 2026, with flights ideal for ski breaks, city escapes, and winter sun holidays.

At a Glance Rock pooling has long been one of Britain’s favourite seaside pastimes – and now it’s becoming a…