borough diary - special summer events edition may 2012

May 2012 www.basildon.gov.uk

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

SPECIAL 2012 SUMMER EVENTS EDITION

Play Your Part Basildon! - Pg 4

Diamond Jubilee - Pg 5

Council News - Pg 7-10

Olympic Torch Relay Guide - Pg 8-9

Royal AnglianHomecoming - Pg 10

WIN FREE Gym Membership at The Place

in our Reader Competition Pg 6

MAY 20122

MESSAGE FROM THE LEADER OF BASILDON COUNCIL

Dear resident,

Welcome to this special edition of the Borough Diary marking our summer events programme in this very special year.

At the same time as councils and local people are facing some very tough times; this summer is seeing a once in a lifetime opportunity for our country. Indeed it is unlikely anyone, even the youngest among us, will ever see the hosting of an Olympic Games in the same year as we celebrate anything as special as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Summer 2012 is going to be very special. I want our residents to be able to take part in and enjoy the Olympic and Jubilee experiences. I also want to use the summer programme to launch our very own legacy programme,

“Play your Part”. Initially the programme is recruiting volunteers to support the summer programme. In the longer term, our vision for Basildon is one of creating opportunity for people who live here and run businesses in our borough.

The council cannot of course achieve this on its own – we need to work with our partners and local people to do it. I hope that is exactly what “Play your Part” will help us achieve once the excitement of this summer has passed.

I look forward to working with all of you over the next four years for the benefit of Basildon Borough. In the meantime I hope you have a fantastic summer which will culminate with the home coming of the Anglian Regiment in November.

To comment on any story in this edition of the Borough Diary, please write to: Michelle Edwards-Norcisse, Editor, Borough Diary, Basildon Borough Council, The Basildon Centre, St. Martin’s Square, Basildon, Essex SS14 1DL, or email [email protected].

About the Borough Diary: This newspaper is produced by the Marketing and Communications team at Basildon Borough Council. It is usually published four times a year and delivered free to almost 80,000 homes in Basildon, Billericay and Wickford.

Advertise in the Borough Diary: To advertise or enquire about rates and deadlines, call 01268 294201. Basildon Council accepts no responsibility for the content of any advertisement published in the Borough Diary and the inclusion of any advertisement does not imply approval or recommendation by the Council of either the terms of any offer or service contained in it or of the advertiser.

Other formats: For large print, Braille or spoken word formats, please call 01268 294590.

Councillor Tony Ball

Leader Tony Ball

BASILDON SET FOR EXCITING 2012 EVENTS PROGRAMMEBASILDON is set for a series of community events in 2012 as the country comes together to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

£180,000 of new funding has been set aside for these two key events, along with a ‘home coming’ event for the Royal Anglian regiment towards the end of the year (see page 10 for details).

£150,000 will be added to £40,000 of existing funding to support a programme of events for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the Olympic torch relay that will reach Basildon on Friday 6 July (see page 8 for your guide to the torch relay route). A funding pot was also made available for community groups and organisations who were able to bid for up to £2,000 to run their own events (more on the groups who were successful in their bid is on page 3).

£25,000 of new funding has also been earmarked to celebrate the

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (see page 5 for details). This is in addition to £40,000 already identified that will be used to offer small grants to community groups to help them celebrate this momentous occasion.

Cabinet member for leisure and arts, Cllr Kevin Blake, said: “2012 will truly be a magical year for the whole nation, and this investment will allow the local community to really get involved.

“But this is not just about the council spending money – it is about making it easier for local people to get involved by taking obstacles out of the way to help the community organise and run their own events.”

An investment of £5,000 will allow the Royal Anglian regiment, who was granted freedom of the borough in April 2011, to put on a community event. Billed the ‘Royal Anglian homecoming event’, up to 160 recruits will march through the town later in the year. This will be followed by a small civic reception in the Towngate Theatre hosted by the Mayor.

Page 3Page 4

Page 5 Page 10

3MAY 2012

BASILDON GROUPS GET OLYMPIC FUNDING BOOST

Financial services company First Data received a £1000 grant to run an Olympic themed sports day for employees, their families and local charities.

First Data has been involved in many charitable activities in the borough and the sports day will also mark 20 years for First Data as a local employer in Basildon.

£2000 granted to run a major schools event – they will split into four countries from the Olympic Games and run a series of events from February through to June where pupils will compete against each other.

Granted £1500 to run an alternative sports day for 3-15 year olds with a best costume competition.

Granted £1500 for a healthy eating project involving parents.

Fresh produce gardens will be created and pupils and parents will learn about growing and selling produce.

Granted £500 to organise a corresponding torch relay on Friday 6 July for the seven local primary schools.

LOCAL clubs and businesses have been awarded £25,000 of council funding to host events to celebrate the Olympic torch relay and 2012 London Games.

The funding was announced at the start of March, with community organisations, groups and local businesses

being encouraged to play their part and bid for funding.Cllr Tony Ball, leader of the council, says: “I am

delighted that we are able to fund these fantastic projects.

“They will allow so many more local people to get

involved in community events and the London 2012 experience.

“Some of the ideas suggested are really creative, fun and epitomise the Olympic spirit and I am glad that we can do our part for what will be a wonderful event.”

FIRST DATA

BEAUCHAMPS HIGH SCHOOL

LEE CHAPEL NORTH HOLIDAY CLUB

BILLERICAY STRIDERS CLUB

BASILDON LOWER ACADEMY

OTHER GRANTS AWARDED:• The Billericay School - £1400• Sports Twin - £1500• Basildon Occupational Therapy Learning Disabilities Service - £1500• Wickford Carnival Association - £1000• Parents 1st- £1400• La Danse Fantastique - £1000• Model Railway Club - £500• James Hornsby High School - £1000

• Sunnymede Junior School - £2000• Langdon Hills District Girl Guides - £650• Basildon Borough Heritage and Museum

Group - £1758• Craylands Activity Zone - £1500• Billericay Town Council - £800• Forest Glade Football Club - £1000• Gateway Community Media CIC - £1500

Photo Courtesy: Essex Chronicle Media Group

MAY 20124

PLAY YOUR PART BASILDON!WITH the London 2012 Olympics starting on 27 July 2012 and the Paralympic Games starting on 29 August 2012 Basildon Council is working hard to ensure the borough celebrates this momentous occasion.

Basildon is one of over 1000 host communities across the country that will take part in the Olympic Torch Relay. After being carried by 8000 torch bearers for 70 days the Olympic Torch will come to Basildon on Friday 6 July 2012.

Basildon Council aims to secure a legacy in Essex from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and takes pride in incorporating the following key Olympic Legacy priorities for the borough: Sport and Culture; Community; Education; and Business.

Over the past few months volunteers have been recruited to play their part and assist in helping marshal the Olympic Torch Relay and other events happening across the borough.

However following the events, the theme of Play Your Part will remain. Volunteering can be rewarding and a great way to socialise, so whether it be lending a hand at your local Day Centre, joining a work party in your local country park or helping out at the Towngate Theatre, there are numerous ways you can volunteer and Play Your Part. For more information on volunteering email: [email protected]

PLAY YOUR PART AWARDSMeanwhile Basildon volunteers who have worked

tirelessly in the community are to be recognised at the Play Your Part Volunteer Awards next month.

The Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday 15 June 2012, and has been designed to recognise the great achievements and contributions of the many volunteers in Basildon borough across five categories:

Young Volunteer; Long Serving Volunteer; Team Volunteering; Volunteering Through Adversity; and Volunteer Who Has Made An Outstanding Contribution.

Pippa Brent-Isherwood, manager of community services, said: “The Play Your Part Volunteers Awards is a fantastic way for residents to celebrate and recognise the hard work of individuals who often go the extra mile in serving their community.

“Nominations were even open for relatives of the nominees to apply and we have received applications on behalf of some very deserving individuals.”

All nominees will be put forward to win the prestigious Tony Guyon ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Memorial Cup.

Tony was a popular and committed member of Basildon Council’s Youth and Community Engagement Team who sadly passed away in 2010. He loved spending his spare time volunteering in his community and he played his part in helping to make Basildon a better borough.

SPORT and culture will come together in Basildon on Saturday 24 May, with the Basildon Sporting Village playing host to the first ‘Play Your Part’ Festival.

Celebrating the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games, the festival will see the Sporting Village open its doors, with a number of a c t i v i t i e s being held free of

charge, and several special events running throughout the day.

Hundreds of school children from across the borough will be taking part in specially designed mini-games throughout the morning, whilst the afternoon will see the main sports hall playing host to some of the best local dancers and gymnasts as they perform in a specially created dance festival.

The day will end with a free ticketed event called ‘Sparks Will Fly’ in the Sporting Village stadium, with entertainment running from 3pm, as a selection of world music and dance acts perform.

The evening entertainment runs from 3pm to 8pm and tickets are free of charge. Tickets can be obtained by contacting the Towngate Theatre on 01268 465465 or emailing [email protected].

‘Sparks Will Fly’ is the countywide cultural celebration of the London 2012

Olympic and Paralympic Games, and involves every district and borough in Essex and more than 100,000 residents.

This celebration, created in partnership with internationally acclaimed outdoor performance specialists Walk the Plank, will see two mythical champions, Boreas Zephyr and Marina Mightier, coming

to Essex and collecting a specially designed bead from each town.

The arrival of the champions and an accompanying procession to collect the ‘Basildon Bead’ will bring the event to a close.

More details are available at www.sparkswillfly.org.uk.

World Stage•BattleoftheBands2012Finalist•WoodlandsSchoolChoir•BhangraDancers(Sikh)•ChameleonStreetDance•LaDanseFantastique•FragranceoftheEast(Egyptian/Turkishdancing)•Drumensemble‘TheCoterieBeat•GhyllgroveSchoolJuniorChoir•Cultured(SoundsfromSouthAfrica)

•KayzarStreetDance•CharlieSansom(MichaelBubbletribute)•Brazilarte(Kapoira-Brazilian)•Orchestra•SparkswillFlyprocession

Come and Try sessions•Swimming•DJMixing(3pmto6.30pm)•ArtsandCrafts-Flames,Masks,Flags(3pmto6.30pm)

FESTIVAL ACTS

JOIN THE PARTY!

IMAGE

WOODLANDS SCHOOL

Bhangra Dancers

5MAY 2012

BASILDON will join national celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by lighting specially created beacons across the borough.

Monday 4 June will see a network of over 2012 beacons lit by communities and others throughout the United Kingdom,ChannelIslandsandtheIsleofMan,alongwiththeCommonwealthandUKOverseasTerritoriestocelebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Joining the celebrations, five Basildon communities will be holding events ahead of lighting their beacons at approximately10.30pm:

Billericay - Sun CornerChoirs, morris dancers and much more will be on offer, as

well as a range of refreshments as the Town Council play host to a special event at Sun Corner from 9pm. Beacon Lighting from 10pm.

Laindon - Paddocks Community HallLocated at the Recreation Ground off Pound Lane there will be festivities running throughout the day with a Street Party from 11am.

Organised by the Paddocks Community Association a bouncy castle and a range of children’s games will be on offer with visitors asked to bring their own food and drink. From 5pm until midnight a BBQ party will be running with an open mic, raffle and entertainment.

Little Burstead - Village GreenRefreshments available within the village hall ahead of the beacon light switch on.

Wickford - Wickford Memorial ParkOrganised by the Royal British Legion a BBQ and disco will be on offer from 8pm onwards at their club house on Runwell Road opposite the War Memorial.

QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE

Extended hours for JubileeRESIDENTS will be able to enjoy extended licensing hours in pubs, clubs and restaurants during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend.

Following a public consultation, new licensing conditions have been introduced which will allow licensed premises in England and Wales to stay open between 11pm on Friday 1 June and 1am on Saturday 2 June, and between 11pm on Saturday 2 June and 1am on Sunday 3 June.

Cllr David Abrahall, Basildon Council’s Chairman of the Licensing Committee, said: “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is a time of national celebration and people up and down the country will want to join in the festivities.

“The extension of opening hours

will allow residents to celebrate this special occasion and allow licensed premises to take advantage of the extra business and put on live music and other forms of entertainment, so that everyone can enjoy the atmosphere if they choose to mark the special occasion.”

Following a seven week consultation in October 2011, around 85 per cent of respondents were in favour of the order being applied in England and Wales.

The order will not apply to businesses that do not have the relevant authorisation on their licence.

Those businesses without the relevant authorisation will need to apply (if appropriate) for a temporary event notice.

Saturday 2 June Tower Avenue Basildon, SS15 5PE

Sunday 3 JuneJames Square, Billericay, CM11 2LNEast Thorpe, Basildon, SS14 1LYTyelands, Billericay, CM12 9PBBeauchamps Drive, Wickford, SS11 8NJWest Hook, Basildon, SS16 6SSReading Close, Basildon, SS16 6UFDeacon Drive, Basildon, SS15 5FY

Monday 4 JuneHockley Road, Basildon, SS14 1RQLongfield Road, Wickford, SS11 8PUAnnett Close, Wickford, SS12 9JH

Monday 4 JuneChestnut Ave, Billericay, CM12 9JGNightingales, Basildon, SS16 6SA

Tuesday 5 JuneNether Priors, Basildon, SS14 1LTFirst Avenue, Wickford , SS11 8RAThird Avenue, Wickford, SS11 8RF

Friday 8 JuneSwan Close, Basildon, SS15 5GE

Dates Unknown:Scarletts, Basildon, SS14 2HZ; Home Mead, Basildon, SS15 6HN; Witchards, Basildon, SS16 5BH; and Thistle Down Court, Basildon, SS14 1LP.

STREET PARTIES BEING ORGANISED

Party in a Box successBASILDON Council has had an unprecedented response to its free ‘Party in a Box’ made available to community groups and residents for the Diamond Jubilee.

The 130 boxes available on a first come, first serve basis have been snapped up as locals get into the party spirit. Each box included party hats, flags, balloons, bunting and a pre-printed poster - everything needed to host a community party.

The council initially made 100 boxes available but due to additional demand, a further 30 boxes were made available. For more information on Queen’s Jubilee celebrations happening across the borough visit the council’s website at www.basildon.gov.uk

Laindon Park - Queen’s Silver Jubilee party 1977

Methersgate’s - Queen’s Silver Jubilee party 1977

Photo Courtesy: Basildon Heritage Group

Photo Courtesy: Basildon Heritage Group

MAY 20126

THE PLACE FOR JUBILEETHE PLACE in Pitsea has recently had a £150,000 overhaul to offer a wider variety of health and fitness, room hire, play area and party facilities for residents. The refurbishment means the centre now boasts of a new modern Pulse Health Studio for local people to keep fit and get active, as well as refurbished function rooms, halls, children’s Fun Zone, bar and toilets. As The Place gets ready to hold a special disco celebration, in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, new centre manager Carmel Hanley shares her plans and thoughts on why The Place has and will continue to be an important part of the community at Pitsea.

With the new improvements at The Place what benefits can residents expect to see?We’ve renamed Pitsea Leisure Centre ‘The Place’ because we feel it has so much more to offer than your typical leisure centre. Our new Pulse Health Studio offers a range of fitness stations and Power Plates which are especially beneficial for people who are beginning their fitness drive. With a fully air conditioned suite, supervised sessions and personalised fitness plans and a GP referral scheme, we’ve designed the studio to be a safe and relaxed environment for people who want to get active and still have fun.

We’ve also been redecorating throughout the centre, and have included a new snooker and table tennis room. Our new dance studio is used for group exercises as well as dance classes and our meeting rooms and halls have also been decorated and refurbished making them a fantastic place for local people to have their meetings, conferences, weddings and parties at an affordable price.

What is your vision for the centre and how are you going to go about making this vision a reality?I want to continue making The Place a centre at the heart of the community, being a friendly facility offering value for money services so our customers return again and again while telling their friends and family too!

As a team we want to go out into the community telling them what we have to offer that is different from other centres.

What do you think makes The Place different from similar centres in the borough? I think it is that our staff are so friendly and willing to help. As an added bonus we offer so many different activities at the centre that suit people from all age groups. We also tailor what we provide to ensure it is affordable to local people and reflects what they want from The Place. The recent changes at The Place have come about after consulting in the local area so we are listening and have acted on what local people want for the centre. This is something we will continue to do.

What activities do you have at The Place that will interest local people?Apart from our Health and Fitness suite, families with young children can take advantage of our revamped Fun Zone which we have specially designed for children under eight years of age to use for children’s parties and casual use. It is the perfect place to allow your little ones to run around and have fun in a safe environment. We also offer a yearly panto at the centre which is a real hit with the kids.

Our function and meeting rooms are tailored for local businesses and community groups. Our group exercise classes include low impact aerobics, Pilates, line dancing, Zumba, circuit training and karate, to name a few. We also offer tailored packages for weddings and other special occasions and we are one of the few centres in the borough to have a fully licensed bar.

The Place still has its popular Day Centre, which provides an avenue for over 50 year olds to socialise with each other, take part in group activities and trips and get hot meals during the day. So we truly do provide something for everyone!

Tell us more about the Diamond Jubilee disco being held at The Place?The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is a momentous occasion we couldn’t let pass without having our own community celebration. Our disco is being held on Saturday 2 June from 7.30pm to 11pm. Tickets cost only £10 and are available from The Place reception or by calling 01268 465420. For this you get a traditional fish and chips or delicious chicken and chips meal and a fully licensed bar is available. Plus TDR Road show will be there to get people dancing to the music. It promises to be a fun night to remember so I hope to see you all there!

Carmel Hanley, The Place Manager

Pulse Health Studio

Fun Zone

For your chance to win free gym membership at The Place for either one year, six months or three months, answer the following question:

The Place’s Fun Zone has been specially designed for children up to what age?

Send your answers with your name and contact details to: Borough Diary Readers’ Competition, The Place, Northlands Pavement, Pitsea, Basildon,Essex,SS133DWoremail:[email protected].

TERMS & CONDITIONS - THE PLACE COMPETITION BOROUGH DIARYEntries must be received by 8 June 2012. The winners will be drawn at random from correct entries.Onlyoneentryperpersonallowed.Theprizecannotbeexchangedorsoldtoathirdparty.TheprizedrawisopentoallresidentsoftheUK,IsleofManandChannelIslands excluding employees of Basildon Borough Council, their immediate families, agents oranyoneprofessionallyconnectedwiththepromotion.Nopurchasenecessary.Theprizeconsists:1stprize-1year’sgymmembership,2ndprice-6monthsgymmembershipand3rdprize-3monthsgymmembership,atThePlace,Pitsea.

Win Free Gym Membership!

7MAY 2012

4-PAGE NEWS SUPPLEMENTBOROUGH DIARY SUMMER EVENTS EDITION

2012 LOCAL ELECTION RESULTSLiberal Democrats

Labour

Conservatives

7 7

1

Share of newly won seats

Liberal Democrats

Labour

Conservatives

15 25

2

Current Council Members

Billericay EastStuart Bryan Sullivan, Conservative - 1502 Elected SusanPatriciaMcCaffery,UKIndependenceParty - 409 PatriciaReid,Labour-383NigelJohnHornLiberalDemocrat316

Electorate 9200 Total votes 2610 Turnout 29%

Billericay WestPhillip Charles Turner, Conservative - 1688 Elected Daniel Lawrence, Conservative - 1648 Elected TerenceCharlesGandy,UKIndependenceParty- 574 SantaNinaBennett,Labour-380JohnJames,LiberalDemocrat-321Andrew Charles Buxton, Labour - 257


BursteadRichard Andrew Moore, Conservative - 1517 Elected CherryYoung,UKIndependenceParty-396ElaineMcDonald,Labour-359Benjamin Paul Williams, Liberal Democrat - 155


CrouchStuart Johns Allen, Conservative - 888 - Elected SarahElizabethDavies,Labour-299GrahamRobertStarling,UKIndependenceParty - 279

Electorate 6405 Total votes 1466 Turnout23%

FryernsAdele Jane Brown, Labour – 1097 - Elected TinaArnold,Conservative-399DavidJohnSheppard,UKIndependenceParty-366ArnoldLutton,LiberalDemocrat-137

Electorate9536Total votes 1999 Turnout 21%

Laindon ParkJohn Peter Richard Scarola, Labour - 867 Frank Tomlin, Conservative - 691 MarkEllis,UKIndependenceParty-388Tony Harms, The British Freedom Party - 87 Colin Grant, Liberal Democrat - 61


Langdon HillsStephen Hillier, Conservative - 879 Jenefer Anne Taylor, Labour - 651 AndyAger,UKIndependenceParty-377LizGrant,LiberalDemocrat-108Matthew Ing, Independent - 44

Electorate 6885 Total votes 2059 Turnout30%

Lee Chapel NorthLynda Doreen Gordon, Labour - 1048 FrankFerguson,UKIndependenceParty-359CraigRonaldRimmer,Conservative-343Thomas Frank Beaney, National Front Putting Britain First - 107 Steve Nice, Liberal Democrat - 85


NethermayneGeoff Williams, Liberal Democrat - 899 Swatantra Dhanraj Nandanwar, Labour and Co-Operative Party - 578 KerryJamesDarylLukeSmith,UKIndependenceParty-573Andrew Peter Schrader, Conservative - 427 NoneOfTheAboveX-36

Electorate8932Totalvotes2513Turnout 28%

Pitsea North WestGavinDominicCallaghan,Labour-932Andrew Simon Baggott, Conservative - 564 TerryDouglasMcBride,UKIndependenceParty-323MartinKeithHoward,LiberalDemocrat-97


Pitsea South East AidanMcGurran,Labour-933Ann Blake, Conservative - 876 ImeldaClancy,UKIndependenceParty-375Viv Howard, Liberal Democrat - 91 Electorate 8577 Total votes 2275 Turnout 27%

St Martin’sPhilip William Rackley, Labour - 759 Tony Mark Low, Conservative - 248 PeterBrendonWood,UKIndependenceParty- 229 Clare Nice, Liberal Democrat - 80 Electorate 5955 Totalvotes1316Turnout 22%

Vange ByronKingsleyTaylor,Labour-919LukeMackenzie,Conservative-320BeckyAger,UKIndependenceParty-274Philip Edward Jenkins, Liberal Democrat - 51 Electorate 6827 Total votes 1564 Turnout23%

Wickford North Carole Morris, Conservative - 1012 Dave Harrison, Independent - 676 Albert Edward Ede, Labour - 409 TrevorMalsbury,UKIndependenceParty-199Stephen Leonard Smith, English Democrats - 94

Electorate 9626Totalvotes2390Turnout 25%

MORE DETAILS OF THE LOCAL AND PARISH ELECTION RESULTS ARE

AVAILABLE AT WWW.BASILDON.GOV.UK/ELECTIONS

MAY 20128

CRUNCH TIMES

The Crunch Service is a mobile waste disposal facility that tours the borough which residents can use to dispose of bulkier items of rubbish. Locations marked with a G can also be used for the disposal of green waste. The Crunch Service is not suitable for paints, oils or other waste liquids.

The Crunch is from 9am to noon at each site, unless otherwise stated.

19 MayWickford - The Wick Country ParkLaindon Link - Bluehouse Community Centre *G*Vange - Redgrave Road 9-10.30Southview Road opp Dentist10.30-12Fryerns - Frypa Hall

26 MayWickford - Alderney GdnsRear of ShopsBillericay - Radford Crescent – Car Park *G*Laindon – Five LinksSomercotes - Next To ShopsPitsea-KennethRoad–Layby

2 JuneRamsden Bellhouse - Village Hall *G*Billericay - St. David’s WalkLangdon Hills - Triangle ShopsSteepleView-KingsCrescent

16 JuneWickford-KershawsCloserear of Nevendon RoadBillericay - Little Burstead Car Park *G*Fryerns – Ghyllgrove opposite the UpwayChalvedon - Mill Green Layby near car park

23 JuneLaindon - Five Links - Handley Green service road10.30am-noonLaindon – Danacre Parking Area - 9am-10.30amroad10.30am-noonLuncies - Stagden Cross 9am-10.30amBeechRoad10.30am-noonFryerns - Frypa Hall

30 JuneWickford-KershawsCloserear of Nevendon Road shopsBillericay – Radford Crescent – Car Park *G*Fryerns-JollyFriar/Downey Close 9am - 10.30amCraylands – Lichfields – Rearofshops10.30am- noon


COUNCIL TO RECLAIM HOME FROM CONVICTED CRIMINALA COUNCIL tenant who abused their tenancy has paid the price after the council gained a Possession Order on his home.

Basildon Council successfully obtained the order on the basis that the tenant had been convicted of possession of class A drugs at the premises with intent to supply.

Basildon Council will now apply for an eviction warrant on the property in Wickford before it can be reallocated to someone else on the council housing waiting list.

Lesley O’Shea, Basildon Council’s interim area housing services

manager, said: “This is the first Possession Order gained where we’ve relied solely on a criminal conviction to support our case. We feel it sends a clear message to tenants who commit criminal offences in and around their properties.

“There are no second chances. Not only can tenants end up on the wrong side of the law but they can also get evicted from their home.”

Anyone who suspects their neighbours are engaging in illegal activity can contact the council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team on 01268 465130 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

AFTER just one year of operation the Basildon Sporting Village has reached its one millionth visitor.

Sue Brunt of Burnt Mills, Basildon, received the accolade as she visited the centre for a swimming trip with her children Gina and Olivia.

Met by the managers at the centre and Cllr Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and arts at Basildon Council, Sue received a free years membership to the Sporting Village, a bottle of champagne and an invitation to the Olympic Torch Relay event taking place at the centre in July.

Cllr Blake said: “I would like to congratulate Sue for becoming the millionth visitor to the Sporting Village. I hope that she enjoys her free year at the centre and enjoys everything it has to offer. The vast majority of people using the facility are from the borough and it’s great news that the millionth person is a local resident.

“The Sporting Village has been more successful than we ever imagined and has not only attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors

each month, making it one of the most successful leisure centres in the region, but has also helped raise awareness and

participation in sport within the borough, with a large increase in participation in the first year.”

Sporting Village reaches one millionth user

SPORTING VILLAGE FACTS:

Since opening, the Sporting Village has attracted 4000 active gym members, has seen the Learn to Swim programmegrowfrom850membersto2397members,andhasattractedover2000moreusersattheSouthEssex Gymnastics Club. It has also seen a range of regional, national and international events ranging from the England Youth Swimming Training Camp to the six Nations International Table Tennis and the GB vs Spain Gymnastic International, to Essex Championship Swimming.

Sue Brunt and family with Sporting Village staff and Cllr Blake

9MAY 2012

BY GEORGE! COUNCIL CELEBRATES NATIONAL DAYRESIDENTS from across the borough celebrated St George’s Day last month.

There was a musical treat at the Towngate Theatre, with hundreds attending a patriotic singalong, ‘There’ll always be an England.’

Basildon Town Square hosted an English craft market, whilst the Mayor of Basildon joined residents and cast members from the Towngate show to raise the St Georges Flag outside the Basildon Centre.

Not wanting to miss out on the fun, a specially themed meal of boiled bacon and pease pudding was served to Laindon Day Centre visitors, with George Hurd Centre Day Centre members being treated to roast beef and yorkshire pudding.

Wat Tyler Country Park also celebrated the day on Sunday 22 April, with an event organised by the Essex Youth Partnership and attended by hundreds of local people.

Cllr Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and arts at Basildon Council said: “Basildon has a tradition for celebrating our national day. We have had a great show on at the Towngate and the Theatre Bar has been getting into the swing of the things with decorations and a special English menu.

“It has been a great way to kick off what is going to be a busy few months of events and celebrations happening across the borough.”

FUNDING FOR PRE-SCHOOLS AND OLDER PEOPLE’S GROUPSAPPLICATIONS are now open for pre-schools and groups for older people to apply for a Basildon Council community grant.

The older people’s group grants are available to older people’s groups only and will pay up to 50% of the groups’ annual hire costs.

These grants are offered at the council’s discretion and groups do not need to hire or rent premises owned or managed by Basildon Council to receive funding. However groups must meet regularly (at least once a month), be a constituted group and provide evidence of a bank account by supplying a recent bank statement or a copy of their most recent accounts.

The maximum amount the Council can award for any group under the Older People’s Grants is £2,000.

The pre-schools’ grant is awarded to nurseries and playgroups and specifically benefits families who have at least one parent who is claiming Income Support or Job Seeker’s Allowance. The funding is a stop gap amount awarded for each child attending pre-school and is payable on the first day the child reaches three years of age until the end of that current term. The government funding then activates from the first day of the following term.

This grant is paid for up to ten weeks per child for two sessions per week at £4.78 per session. Applications are processed twice per term and can only be made from the pre-school or nursery and not directly from parents. Additional allowance is

also made for children with special needs.Pippa Brent-Isherwood, manager of community services, said: “Although there

are no ‘funding rounds’ for these grants, they are subject to available funds so please check the Council’s website for up to date information or contact the Council’s Funding Officer.

The deadline for applications for both schemes is Friday 15 February 2013.For more information about all council grants please visit www.basildon.gov.uk/

communitygrants or contact the council’s funding officer on 01268 294406 or email [email protected].

UPCOMING FUNDING FAYREBasildon Council, in partnership with Basildon, Billericay & Wickford CVS,

are holding a Funding Fayre on Thursday 5 July, 2012 in St. Georges Suite, The Basildon Centre, from 2pm until 6pm.

A variety of local and national funders will be providing information about their funding and grants opportunities using workshops and information stands. The event is free to community and voluntary groups and you are

advised to book a place.

Contact the council’s funding office for more information.

MayorCllrMoLarkinandcastof‘There’llalwaysbeanEngland’show


MAY 201210


Recycling Collections To All HomesEVERY home in the borough is now receiving glass and pink sack collections. The extensions to the service began last month and now

100 per cent of properties are receiving the collections.

Cllr Malcolm Buckley, cabinet member for environment, said: “The council is committed to reaching out to as many residents as possible and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

“I am delighted all properties now have access to at least two recycling services, meaning everyone can recycle.”Residents received pink sacks and information leaflets

ahead of the first collection for their area.

LITTER ENFORCEMENT TEAM INCREASEDFOUR new enforcement officers are pounding the streets of Basildon, thanks to an innovative trial being undertaken by the council.

XFOR, a company who specialise in environmental enforcement, will provide four officers to work alongside the existing council team.

They will patrol the streets of the borough and issue fixed penalty notices to anyone seen littering, allowing dogs to foul streets or fly-posting.

The extended trial service comes at no cost to the council as the additional enforcement staff will be employed by the contractor who will take the majority of the income from fixed penalty notices.

Cllr Malcolm Buckley, cabinet member for environment, said: “This sends a clear message that Basildon Council is determined to keep the streets tidy for residents.

“The vast majority of people don’t drop litter – but the minority who do impact our environment and we all pay to clear up after them – it is time they were held responsible for their actions.

“This is a trial and we will be monitoring its effectiveness and watching the XFOR enforcement officers very carefully to make sure that they are behaving correctly and only issuing fines where appropriate.

“This is not about the council making money; it is about finding a smart cost effective way to improve our environment and reduce the amount of council tax we spend on clearing litter.”

A NOISY neighbour from hell has had their music equipment seized by council officers.

The action was taken in partnership with the police to stop serious noise nuisance. It followed the breach of a noise abatement notice witnessed by environmental health officers on 24 February as the occupier continued to play loud music late at night.

The noise abatement notice was served on 9 January 2012 on a property in Merricks Lane, Vange.

Phil Easteal, Basildon Council’s manager of environmental health and community safety, said:

“We are delighted to have been able to put an end to

the blight caused by this inconsiderate behaviour. Our officers who visited the scene prior to the abatement notice being served could literally feel the ground shaking under their feet from vibrations caused by the loud music being played. The occupier then ignored the notice forcing us to take the drastic measure of seizing the equipment.

“Persistent loud music, especially late at night, is totally unacceptable and can have a damaging impact on people’s lives. We are therefore pleased that we could work in partnership with the police on this occasion to resolve the problem.”

Sgt Paul Costin, from the Basildon West neighbourhood policing team, said: “This equipment was causing misery to people’s lives. The affects that noise and anti-social behaviour have on law-abiding residents should not be underestimated, and in quite a few cases it severely affects the quality of life of people that are adversely affected by the actions and behaviour of their neighbours.

“If we believe you are responsible for engaging in anti-social behaviour, we will work with other agencies and use every power available to us to make you change your ways.”

Action taken to silence noisy neighbourCllr Malcolm Buckley with XFOR officers

11MAY 2012

BASILDON TO WELCOME JAPANESE GUESTS

PARALYMPIC GAMES’ FLAME FESTIVAL

THE Basildon Sporting Village will be home to Japanese Olympic and Paralympic swimmers and track athletes this summer. Many of the world’s top performers will train in the 50m pool and outdoor athletics track during July and August in readiness for their races in London.

It has already been used by several countries whose gymnasts have trained there, including athletes from India, Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland. In September, Basildon Sporting Village hosted an international friendly gymnastics event between England and Spain which was very well received.

“We are delighted to host the Japanese athletes as they make their final preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Greg Barsby, Contract Manager for Basildon Sporting Village.

“The team chose Basildon Sporting Village for its excellent facilities, international standard pool and track. They recognise that we can help maximise their training while also facilitating their accommodation, acclimatisation and a warm welcome to the UK ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

Cllr Kevin Blake, Basildon Council’s cabinet member for leisure and arts said: “The fact that elite athletes will

be using this facility in the run up to the 2012 Games is a source of great local pride. It just goes to show what a fantastic facility we have here in Basildon, that is used by the local community on a day to day basis.”

“The elite athletes’ programmes have been timetabled to minimise disruption to the general public’s access to the pool and athletics track.

“We have developed a clear timetable of focused training sessions for the elite athletes that enables the majority of our usual timetable to remain,” said Greg Barsby.

“Of course there will be some timetabling amendments to accommodate our overseas guests, but we there will still be ample time for everyone to enjoy our facilities,” he said.

“Added to which, some of our members and visitors may be lucky enough to witness the Olympians training and swimming here.”

Meanwhile the Japanese swimming team that will be using the Sporting Village has been announced. Twenty seven men and women will make up the team, including Kosuke Kitajima, the quadruple gold medallist

who broke the world record for the 100m breaststroke at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Visitors to the Sporting Village will also be able to see Takeshi Matsuda, a 200m long course butterfly bronze medal holder from the 2008 Games.

(L-R) Kosuke Kitajima of Japan victory in the Mens 200m breastrokefinal of the Japan Swim 2012 secures his place on the Japanese Olympic Team, other team members Ryosuke Irie, Aya Terakawa, Takeshi Matsuda, Natsumi Hoshi and Norimasa Hirai at the press conference announcing the Japan swimming team for the London 2012 Olympic games

7

Students focus ambitions on ‘Tree of Dreams’BASILDON students will be focusing on their aspirations, dreams and ambitions in life as the Olympic Torch passes through Basildon on Friday 6 July.

Pupils from schools and colleges from across the borough will be completing aspirational cards to hang on three ‘Trees of Dreams’ at Basildon Sporting Village, Gloucester Park.

Thousands of school children are also expected to get together to have a picnic lunch before heading to Basildon Town Centre to watch the Olympic Torch make its way through Basildon to the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.

Paul Brace, manager of leisure services said: “ The London 2012 Olympics is a once in a life time event that our young people should enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.

“Much is spoken of the ‘legacy’ of the 2012 Olympics Games, such as superb new sporting facilities, developing the

UK’s young sporting talent in future and promoting fitness and sporting participation in the general population. However, we in Basildon will be emphasising another sort of legacy as well.

“We will be using the events around 2012 as a backdrop against which will be asking Basildon’s young people to make a statement about their future life dreams, aspirations and ambitions, whether it be sporting, career, educational or otherwise.

“We hope that this will make those participating think about their future plans and take action to set about achieving them.”

After the Olympics, the trees will remain as an environmentally friendly and sustainable remainder not only of Basildon’s part in the Olympics, but also of the personal ambitions of these young people and their commitment to making them reality, which they can look back on in later life.

THE London 2012 Paralympic Games is being held from Wednesday 29 August to Sunday 9 September.

To celebrate Basildon borough will be holding its very own Flame Festival event on Saturday 25 August at Wat Tyler Country Park.

More details on the festival will be published in the July edition of the Borough Diary. Wat Tyler Country Park

MAY 201212

MAKING YOUR TRAVELARRANGEMENTSWe hope as many people as possible come out to welcome the Olympic Flame and celebrate our local torchbearers on Friday 6 July.

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THE build up to the London 2012 opening ceremony on 27th July will really take off with the arrival of the Olympic Flame from Greece on Saturday 19 May 2012.

When it arrives from Greece, the Olympic Flame will be used to light the London 2012 Olympic Torch that will be carried across the country by specially chosen torchbearers in an Olympic Torch Relay.

The Olympic Torch Relay will pass through more than 1000 towns and villages across the country during the 70 days leading up to the opening ceremony at the Olympic Park, Stratford, East London on Friday 27 July 2012.

Formany,theOlympicTorchRelayisthe‘jewelinthecrown’ of the Olympic movement. Those who carry the Flame represent some of the most inspirational people intheUK-eachtorchbearerhasastorytotellanditiswith pride and pleasure that we welcome them to our borough.

On day 49 of its journey across South Essex, the flame will enter Basildon Borough on Friday 6 July.

PROFILE ON MILLIE DOWNES - BASILDON’S TORCH BEARER

BASILDON local Millie Downes is one of the torch bearers carrying the Olympic Flame during the torch relay.

At 15 years old, Millie is one of the younger individuals chosen for this special occasion. Mille explains why she was given the opportunity to represent Basildon by carrying the Olympic Torch:

“I was chosen through the Coca Cola Future Flames scheme for my fund raising efforts for The Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, which included sponsored runs and cake sales. I was inspired to start fundraising as my best friend Brooke has liver disease. “As an Olympic Young Ambassador for Westcliff High School for Girls I aim to inspire young people to get involved in sport and to promote the Olympic and Paralympic values. Therefore this is a great opportunity for me to encourage others. “I am really excited and proud to be a torch bearer and all my family and friends will be there to support me.”

- Millie Downes

OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTEFriday 6 July

The Olympic Torch will leave Basildon Sporting Village at approximately 4pm.

It will travel along Cranes Farm Road:

• On to Upper Mayne

• It will travel past the Basildon Council offices and then on the Roundacre

• Turning on to Southernhay, pass the bus station before passing under the railway bridge

• Continuing down Cherrydown East and Ashdon Way it will then rejoin Nethermayne before moving on to Grays.

(L-R)MillieandBrooke

YOUR TORCH RELAY GUIDE

The advice for spectators is to get there early to secure a viewing spot. Road closures will be kept to a minimum but Uppermayne Northbound will be closed throughout the afternoon. Diversions will be in place.

Buses will not be diverted as the closure time is so short. Buses will wait with all other traffic and re-commence their planned route once the roads are re-opened.

Where possible please try and walk to your chosen viewing point. If it’s not possible to walk, why not consider cycling? If you will be travelling by car please allow plenty of time for your journey and car share if possible.

Please note there is no additional car parking facilities in the town centre on the day.

13MAY 20129

Sporting Village

Gloucester Park

Town Centre

Cranes Farm Road

Upper M

ayneSouthernhay

Route

Suggested viewing points

Meeting Points

Basildon Train stationFinish

Start:Olympic Torch leaves from Basildon Sporting Village 4:10pm

Finish:The Knares

Key:

Olympic Torch Relay partners Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung will be handing out freebies and promotional material along the route on the day.

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er Mayn

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OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ROUTE IN BASILDON

Friday 6 July

MAY 20121410

ROYAL ANGLIAN GETS HOMECOMING WELCOME

A LOCAL army regiment will march through Basildon town centre on Thursday 8 November 2012 at what is being billed as the ‘Royal Anglian homecoming event’.

Up to 160 recruits will march through the town followed by a small civic reception in the Towngate Theatre hosted by the Mayor. The event follows the granting of Freedom of the Borough in April 2011 and will be after a fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan

The council is funding the event with £5000 and Cllr Tony Ball, leader of the council, says: “The Council is very proud of our armed forces in Basildon and the extraordinary bravery that they show.

“This Home Coming event will be a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and show their appreciation for what they do and

I very much look forward to welcoming the regiment back to Basildon.”

Major Tony Jones who served in the Royal Anglian Regiment for 38 years and now works in a regimental support function in Essex said: “The Royal Anglian Regiment are honoured to be the first recipients of the Borough’s Honorary Freedom and will take much pride in exercising that freedom for the first time in November.

“The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Vikings) will march through the borough with bands playing, drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed.

“If I may I would call on all residents of the borough to pack the streets and give them a thundering welcome to Basildon borough and back from what will have been their fourth tour of Afghanistan!”

Water with care… we all need to share.

Customers can request free water saving products and get advice on how to save water in the garden and the home by visiting our website – www.eswater.co.uk.

www.eswater.co.uk/your-home/using-water-wisely.aspx

The Royal Anglian Regiment

15MAY 2012

PLANNING YOUR SUMMER EVENTSTHOUSANDS of people are expected to line the streets of Basildon as the Olympic Flame passes through the borough on Friday 6 July. To keep disruption to a minimum, Basildon Council has issued some advice for spectators to consider before they make their journey:

Check ahead for road closures by visiting www.basildon.gov.ukIf possible walk, cycle, use public transport or park further away as parking will be limited and there is likely to be traffic disruptionAllow plenty of time to get to your chosen area and try to arrive one hour before the torch is due to arriveKeepvaluableitemssuchaswalletsandmobilephonesoutofsightBe aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re chatting on your mobile phone or listening to your iPodWhenever possible, walk facing oncoming traffic.

Cllr Tony Ball, Leader of Basildon Council, said: “We are expecting thousands of people to take part in celebrating the arrival of the Olympic flame and the safety and enjoyment of visitors is paramount.

“We have been working closely with our partners in the police and fire service to ensure the event runs as smoothly and safely as possible.”

Arrival of the flame is scheduled for approximately 3:30pm on Friday 6 July. For more information on the route of the flame across the borough, visit www.basildon.gov.uk

Traveling and safety during London 2012 London 2012 ticket holder coming from outside of London are encouraged to booking their travel now to secure the best prices and options before they run out. There is limited availability, so bookng now can help ensure you can get to your event.Special fares and conditions are available for rail travel between 18 July and 14 September 2012. Train tickets are likely to get snapped up fast once they go on general sale, so make sure you buy early.

Secure park-and-ride sites will be provided at convenient locations near to a variety of London 2012 venues. There is no spectator parking near any of the venues, so if you wish to drive, book park-and-ride in advance. Visit www.london2012.com for more information.

Safety and securityIf you are coming to London 2012 sports event or ceremony, please bring as little as possible with you. You will need to go through security checks when you arrive at a venue, and the more you bring, the longer it will take you to go through security.

There are strict rules on what can be brought into venues. In most cases you can bring one soft-sided bag into venues – it should fit under your seat or in your lap. Ticket holders are strongly discouraged from bringing a bag to football venues. If you bring a bag, you may be subject to additional checks which will delay your entry to the venue. Bagsmustalsocomplywithsizerestrictions.

There are also prohibited and restricted items whch cannot be taken into the venues, including water and other liquids. If you are carrying any of these items when you arrive they will be taken away and can’t be returned.

The full list of prohibited and restricted items, as well as requirements specific to each venue, will be made available on the official London 2012 website at www.london2012.com over the coming months.

SAFETYFIRST

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Olympic Torch designed by local company BASILDON Council has congratulated local company TECOSIM for its design work on the Olympic Torch which is currently making its way across Essex.

TECOSIM, an engineering company based in Southfields, Laindon, specialises in computer-aided engineering. It helped the designers, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, to make their concept a physical reality whilst being able to withstand all weather conditions and working challenges thrown at it.

Made from gold-coated aluminium alloy, the torch is a three-sided cone with a perforated shell where the flame will burn through. It has a unique design because of the 8,000 holes to represent each of the torch bearers.

Cllr Tony Ball, Leader of Basildon Council, said: “I am very pleased a Basildon company has played such a big part in the designing of this Olympic icon.

“As a Borough we want to be a part of the Olympics and this, together with the opening of the Sporting Village, which

will be used as a training facility, is a big part of that.”

TECOSIM’s Managing Director, Stuart Hawker, spoke about the special opportunity and the engineering challenges his team had in designing the torch: “The London 2012 Olympic torch project is quite unique opportunity and something which we are proud to have been involved with. The project did have many challenges, especially as we wanted stay faithful to the design theme created by Barber Osgerby.

“We worked closely with the designers to ensure that the engineering requirements did not change the design and that the torch could be manufactured.

“The burner was developed in conjunction with the torch body and tested so that it can withstand all the weather conditions that a British summer can throw at it, being high winds, rain, snow and high temperatures!”

TECOSIM also worked with another local company in Essex called XWorkss for some of the torch’s prototype development. Photo courtesy: London 2012

borough diary - special summer events edition may 2012

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