Browsing: Spotlight

The Government plans to merge Essex Police into larger regional forces, risking reduced local accountability and poorer crime outcomes. Experience from Scotland warns of such mergers’ harms. Locally tailored policing and investment in resources are essential for Southend’s safety.

Environmental campaigner Tricia Cowdrey argues that South East Essex is putting its future food security at risk by allowing productive farmland to be lost to development. Highlighting the importance of local food production, flood protection and climate resilience, she calls for housing growth to focus on brownfield sites and town centre regeneration rather than building over valuable agricultural land.

A look at Southend’s current leadership ahead of the May 7 elections, highlighting key issues including parking costs, regeneration delays, and ongoing transport concerns—encouraging residents to decide whether continuity is the right choice.

Residents in Leigh and Hadleigh continue their determined fight to protect Greenbelt land, urging the Salvation Army to rule out development on the historic Hadleigh Farmland and calling for a clear public decision that reflects strong local opposition.

Concerns have been raised over Southend Council’s Councillor Declaration of Interest procedures, with claims that missing and incomplete forms undermine transparency compared to neighbouring councils. The article questions whether weaker safeguards leave the authority exposed to conflicts of interest and calls for stronger accountability measures.

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.

Waterwatch UK will now take the lead in managing Southend’s Water Quality Summits, following a handover from local MPs. Despite progress in engaging Anglian Water, delays in council water testing continue to frustrate campaigners.

A packed public meeting in Thorpe Bay united campaigners from across Southend to resist controversial new town plans at Bournes Green. With residents fired up by a passionate speech, legal strategies, and environmental concerns, opposition continues to build as Rochford Council formally withdraws support from the proposal.

Southend residents are rallying against plans to build 10,000 homes on cherished Green Belt land, with James Miller of Southend Confelicity arguing the proposal contradicts national planning rules, lacks infrastructure, and ignores viable brownfield alternatives.

A historic revival is underway in Southend’s Clifftown Conservation Area, with a £32,000 Lottery Fund award supporting plans to fully restore the much-loved Bowling Green and celebrate its 100th Anniversary.