Archive
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Council to probe Irish links
A urgent investigation is under way to explore links between travellers pleading to stay in illegally-built homes in south Essex and "millionaire" mansions in Ireland. The Basildon Council probe follows the publication of a book suggesting Dale Farm
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Rental Properties for week ending 5th January 2007
Properties to let in the South SOUTHEND Gordon Road, 2 Bed 1st floor flat, New Kitchen, bathroom, carpets, Laminate flooring, Garden, Ideal for University & town centre,ex cond £5 70pm 07990 575565/01702 582237 OFFICES TO RENT from £50 pw including
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Rathkeale in focus
The ostentatious villa-style mansions in Rathkeale boast pillars, balconies, marble staircases and state-of-the art security systems. Many were paid for in hard cash and built without permission and stand empty most of the year. Rathkeale, the spiritual
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The mystery of Mr Quilligan
One of Rathkeale's wealthiest residents is believed to have attended the latest public inquiry into the Dale Farm site. Antique dealer Simon Quilligan - also known as "Sammy Buckshot" - is worth an estimated £24million. Mr Quilligan was seen in
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Crays Hill's numerous Rathkeale connections
Links between Crays Hill and Rathkeale are numerous and easy to establish. * Ask Dale Farm travellers where they spent Christmas and many will say they were in Rathkeale. Father John Glynn, of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, in Wickford, the travellers
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Travellers: Author is wrong
Dale Farm travellers have denied owning homes in Rathkeale, but admitted some people have relatives there. Site spokesman Richard Sheridan said: "Dale Farm is used only for homes. "There would be some people with relatives in Rathkeale, but I don't
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"Dale Farm is transit base"
The Outsiders claims Dale Farm is more of a transit site than a permanent base for travellers with nowhere else to go, as its residents have asserted at public inquiries. It says Rathkeale travellers set up an almost identical unauthorised site at
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Football: Rocks step up search for forward
EAST Thurock United boss Lee Patterson has pledged to step up the search for a new striker. Speaking in the build up to Saturday's trip top high-flying Hampton and Richmond in the wake of Tuesday night's home Ryman Premier League defeat against Tonbridge
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Keep it green!
Controversial plans to build a mini town on a "green lung" used by hundreds of residents will be submitted within weeks, the Echo can reveal. Campaigners sent a clear message to developers they will not accept the plans to build up to 1,500 homes and
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Blow to waste plant campaign
Stunned protesters today vowed to continue the fight to save Basildon from a massive waste plant, despite suffering a hammer blow in their three-year fight. Essex County Council has finally revealed detailed proposals for the mechanical biological
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Don't close our super school
A headteacher has called on authorities to rethink plans to close her school after it topped a new table of secondaries on Canvey. Students at Furtherwick Park School have outstripped expectations, based on exams taken when they left junior school,
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£7m health centre risks being flooded
A developer has withdrawn a controversial application to redevelop shops and flats in Benfleet after council officers recommended its refusal. Business owners at the site, in High Road, have welcomed the decision by Linatrop to retract its plans to
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OK for hospital expansion
This is the first image of Southend Hospital's £100million planned redevelopment. The plans, which include a 900-space multistorey car park and the extension of three wings, were given outline planning permission by members of Southend Council's development
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Vodka sale lands shop man a fine
A licencee whose off-licence sold alcohol to a 15-year-old has blamed pressure from underage yobs demanding booze. Terrence Burrage, who owns Sanders Stores in the Renown shopping centre, Shoebury, was fined £600 because one of his staff sold cherry
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Anger as telecoms mast battle is lost
Campaigners - including a former Mr Universe - have lost their battle to stop a mobile phone mast being built near their homes. The Government's Planning Inspectorate has upheld an appeal by Vodaphone against Southend Council's refusal of planning
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Bus passes popularity victim of own success
Southend Council is facing an extra £180,000 bill to finance free bus passes for the over sixties, because they have proved so popular. The figures are revealed in an estimate for next year's budget when there is likely to be an even greater demand
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Thieves think outside the box in TV-stealing spree
Police are warning homeowners to be on the look-out following a spate of burglaries in Leigh. Since October, 64 break-ins have been reported in the Chalkwell and Blenheim wards. About a third of the items stolen have been electrical goods and police
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Charity quiz
Leigh Lions Club will be holding a charity fun quiz lunch at Thomas More School, in Kenilworth Gardens, on January 21. Doors open at noon and the quiz will start at 12.30pm. A two-course meal with wine will be served. Tickets are £7.50 for adults and
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High winds fell tree on railway line
HIGH winds led to delays for rail commuters when a tree was blown down onto overhead cables. The tree fell onto a section of line between Westcliff and Southend Central stations, on the c2c line, at about 8am, this morning. Trains continued to run between
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Kids get a reward
These youngsters enjoyed throwing themselves into having fun, after studying hard during the autumn. Year 4 student Lucy Gurnwell had a 100 per cent attendance record at Cherry Tree Primary School in Church Road, Basildon, during the autumn term and
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Have your say over Pitsea's masterplan
Residents are being given the chance to have a say about multi-million pound plans which will change Pitsea for ever. A two-week exhibition will give residents a chance to see what consultants' Pitsea Town Centre Masterplan proposes for the area and
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Make sure we pass test!
Southend United's strength of character will face a stern examination in the next five days - according to Shrimpers skipper Kevin Maher. Steve Tilson's side will clock up more than 800 miles for their next two outings - away at Cardiff City and Barnsley
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Brush is furious at 'disgusting' showing
Paul Brush has blasted his reserve side following their "disgusting" performance against Colchester on Tuesday. The Shrimpers - who included eight players with first team experience - were easily brushed aside 2-1 by a youthful U's side at Roots Hall
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Echo probe triggers urgent calls to MP
Fired-up campaigners are planning to take a packed battlebus to Westminster and demand a Government investigation into the illegal Dale Farm traveller site. Politicians and residents from Crays Hill and Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, are joining forces
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Smith won't rule out Blues return
Jay Smith would be willing to return to Southend United - despite being frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities earlier on this season. The former Aston Villa trainee is currently on loan at League Two Notts County. And he is uncertain
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We'll get NHS cash back - eventually
The county's top NHS boss has defended £27.3million worth of loans from south Essex health services to bail out debt-ridden health departments in other counties. Neil McKay, newly-appointed chief executive of the east of England Strategic Heal-th Authority
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Lloyd gets a Wright result
Lloyd Wright hosted more than 80 members, family and friends when the Garon Park captain's drive-in was held. Vice-captain Bob Meen escorted the new skipper onto the first tee at the Essex Golf Complex to warm applause from his many guests. Wright
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Care homes face threat of strikes
Disgruntled workers at ten Essex care homes are preparing to strike after voting unanimously in favour of industrial action in a protracted row over pay and conditions. Staff in Excelcare homes, including Golden-ley in Benfleet and Sweyne Court in
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The human price of cutting care costs
A woman who had 73 different carers in just four months fears her situation may get even worse if proposed social services cuts go ahead. Complications following breast cancer treatment mean Esther Belton, has been unable to live without the support
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Zenon plots to light up Zasprzak season
Hammers' loan rider Krzysztof Kasprzak has revealed he has a secret weapon to help him to success this season - his father, Zenon. The Pole, who was crowned World Under 21 champion in 2005, prepares his son's bikes and is already working on his machines
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First class results for two Ofsted achievers
There was a double celebration in Wickford today as a neighbouring school and a nursery achieved great Ofsted results. Beauchamps School, in Beauchamps Drive, has been given the highest accolade of being marked outstanding in every single category,
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Results higher than hoped
Pupils across Castle Point have been achieving higher than expected results in their Key Stage Four exams. New figures from the Government monitor how children performed in their GCSEs, or equivalent, based on predictions from exams taken when they
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Golden archer Mike has rivals quivering
Mayflower's Michael Markham was on superb form when Rayleigh Town Archery Club held their annual Open Portsmouth competition. The opening day was for juniors, with 63 archers shooting compound, recurve and long bow style. The day was split into
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Schools impress with top marks
Basildon and Thurrock schools generally achieved impressive Key Stage Four results. Almost all schools in Basildon scored higher than expected in the tables. The main section the Echo has concentrated on is the Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4 contextual
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It's all about how students improve
Southend's grammar schools have been easily outperformed by other local schools in a different type of league table. It is measured on how pupils improved throughout their school career. Only one of the four grammar schools, Westcliff High School
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Getting very rich quickly
Dale Farm travellers have paid hard cash for multiple legal plots, illegally-built homes and green belt land which councils fear could be developed. Police sources have also revealed how the force has made inquiries into rumours one man at the site
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Giving fresh hope to cancer patients
Cancer is a disease which now affects most people in one way or another, but new technology is providing hope for thousands of people affected by the disease in Southend. Southend Leukaemia Unit Group Supporters - or Slugs - realise Southend Hospital's
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Teaming up to beat the bulge
Healthy New Year resolutions should be easier to keep after guidelines were issued to stop the bulging obesity crisis. A report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence says the responsibility to lose weight and get fit doesn't
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Doubts over power to the people plan
Controversial plans to give resident groups on yob-plagued council estates the power to apply for antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) have been met with scepticism. Under new Government measures, associations will be able to apply for the orders, which
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Critics pan allocating school places by draw
Headteachers and MPs have criticised new Government plans to promote the allocation of school places by "lottery". Education Secretary Alan Johnson has announced a new admissions code aimed at stopping middle-class families monopolising the best secondaries
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Primitive diet leaves Dave craving chips
After two weeks of living on raw fruit and veg, Dave Glew couldn't wait to tuck into his favourite food - chips! Dave was one of nine volunteers who camped at Paignton Zoo, in Devon, as part of a BBC experiment to see if trying early man's diet could
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Connection with Titanic signals an interesting life for Les
Leslie H Gibson has done many things in his 91 years, but once a ship's radio operator, always a wireless man. So out of all the memorabilia he has accumulated down the years, one item remains closest to his heart. It could hardly be more utilitarian
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Spinning a web to grab green belt
A community leader at Dale Farm tried to get an illegal site authorised in Hertfordshire while pleading for green belt homes at Crays Hill. Gypsy Council member Patrick Egan, 40, said his family had to stay at the Twin Oaks site, in Ridge, because
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'I've seen the same faces at both inquiries'
Campaigner Len Gridley recalls visiting a Smithy Fen public inquiry in 2004. He said: "Dale Farm travellers were there. They covered their faces when they saw me, but I knew what was going on." Crays Hill and Cottenham residents have long suspected
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What's going on at Fen?
Smithy Fen is another stronghold of Crays Hill's Irish Sheridan clan and the UK's second biggest illegal traveller site. Despite its 50 legal and 58 illegal plots, many of the pitches owned by the clan there are deserted. South Cambridgeshire Council
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Shrewd, smart and getting richer
Travellers fighting to stay at Crays Hill because they have "nowhere else to go" can today be exposed as shrewd, money-making developers. Next month, Dale Farm could be legalised by the Government when it announces its final decision following last
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'We need all these plots'
Dale Farm campaigner Grattan Puxon is aware of Crays Hill and Smithy Fen links. He said: "Some people at Dale Farm own land at Smithy Fen, but neither site has planning permission. "If they were to get permission in both places, it would not be
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Looking at schools in a new light
Whatever former Education Secretary Ruth Kelly's opinion of our education system, the picture from south Essex is far from discouraging. This year's GCSE tables offer few fireworks. But they do indicate steady progress and a system that is serving the
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I still think noisy bird scarer is unnecessary
In response to my letter about bird-scarers, which appeared on January 2, H Stacey highlighted the problems farmers suffered with Brent geese and pigeons. I have lived in Rochford for 45 years, in quite close proximity to the local reservoir. I have
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Some cyclists seem to have a death wish
So the police will be handing out free cycle lights at an event to be staged in Cluny Square, Southend on Saturday, January 13, to help children stay safer on their bikes during the dark evenings? Is it not the responsibility of their parents to provide
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A standing joke
What a great idea to stick open urinals up in Southend High Street. Apart from the cost to taxpayers, which no doubt will include a handsome commission paid to the consultant who came up with this novel idea, a couple of females have been heard asking
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Decision undermines our democracy
Residents in the area surrounding Churchhill Gardens, Southend, have been informed the Planning Inspectorate is allowing Vodafone a telecommunications mast next to the park and near their homes. The council unanimously voted against this proposal on
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Decision undermines our democracy
Residents in the area surrounding Churchhill Gardens, Southend, have been informed the Planning Inspectorate is allowing Vodafone a telecommunications mast next to the park and near their homes. The council unanimously voted against this proposal on
