News In Brief

ASHINGDON speed camera torn down.

A LEADING councillor has slammed vandals for a “completely irresponsible” attack after a school speed camera was torn down in the early hours.

The speed camera, located in Ashington Road Rochford near Holt Farm Infant School was missing on the morning commute, in the last week of July.

The camera was later found propped up on a bench at the bottom of Ashington Hill.

Residents living near the camera reported a “horrendous” loud noise in the early hours of Monday, July 22, when the camera was cut down.

Resident Laurie Mayhew was reported to have spotted the speed camera device on the bench and worked out where it had come from.

Conservative Rochford District Councillor for Hockley and Ashington Danielle Belton said that the camera near the school is used as a deterrent in a speed hotspot in the area.

She added: “Ashingdon Road leading onto Greenwoods Lane, is a hotspot for speeding vehicles and the speed camera helps control the issue.

“An act of vandalism like this is completely irresponsible and only ends up costing us, the tax payers, money,

“Speed cameras, unlike the congestion charge and ULEZ, are there to increase safety for road users and pedestrians alike, so should be respected.

“I hope we don’t see any repeats of this around the district.”

Essex highways, which is responsible for the Camera, made arrangements that same day for the site to be attended and made safe.

A report of criminal damage has since been filed with a the police, Essex County Council confirmed.

 

Car flipped on its roof on A127

FOUR people including a child and a baby were rushed to hospital after a car was flipped during a serious collision in Westcliff.

Emergency services shut the A27 in Westcliff on the morning of Friday, August 2, following a crash involving a BMW and a Tiguan.

The Tiguan was flipped on its roof in the incident, which occurred on Prince Avenue close to the Shell garage.

The road was closed by emergency services straight after the crash at 10:30 am and it remained closed till the early afternoon as police cleared the scene.

The BMW driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

The ambulance service confirmed a man, woman, a child and a baby were taken to Southend Hospital following the crash.

Essex police remained on the scene until the afternoon following the crash.

The road reopened at roughly 1.30pm

An East of England ambulance service spokesman said: “we were called at 10:30 am to a road traffic collision near the junction of Rochester Drive and Prince Avenue on Westcliff.

“The three ambulances and an ambulance officer vehicle were sent to the scene.

“An adult man, adult woman, a child and a baby were transported to Southend University Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”

A police spokesman said: “we were called at 10:30 am on Friday to reports of a collision involving two cars at Prince Avenue.

“A BMW was in collision with a Tiguan that came to rest on its roof.

“Emergency services attended and the occupants of the Tiguan were taken to hospital as a precaution with minor injuries.

“The driver of the BMW, a man and his 30s, was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and released under investigation.”

 

Suspected ordnance

A CORDON was set up on Chalkwell Beach after fears that an explosive had been found.

The Coastguard was called to reports of a suspicious item on Chalkwell Beach on August 9 at around 11.40 am, after an off-duty police officer spotted the suspicious item.

A one hundred metre cordon was seen to be set up at the site.

The item was investigated and reported to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Dover, who contacted the army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.

As the item was covered by the tide, the army team had to return later to the scene, to continue their investigations.

At around 7.45pm, the team returned to the beach, where it was confirmed that it was not an explosive and the teams stood down.

 

Help to grow your business

ROCHFORD District Council is bringing back an initiative that sees entrepreneurs given help and advice on growing their business.

GET SET GROW, a free business growth programme funded by the UK Government, combines group business coaching with personalised one-to-one mentoring.

The programme will culminate in The Big Pitch, offering participants the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts and compete for prizes.

The programme is open to businesses at any stage, whether start-up or established, located within the Rochford district or Brentwood borough.

Group cohort sessions will commence in September 2024 and the programme run until 31 March 2025.

Interested Rochford District businesses can apply at www.rochford.gov.uk/business-news-and-events.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

 

Car park bill £264

A ROCHFORD man was hit with a bill for £264 when he left his car in a town centre car park for longer than allowed.

Thomas Aldridge, of Rochford Garden Way, parked his car in the long stay car park in Newham Street, Ely, on December 15, Cambridge magistrates’’ Court heard.

The offence was proved in his absence and he has been fined £60.

He must also pay compensation of £60, a surcharge to fund victim services of £24, and prosecution costs of £120.

 

 

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