Senior Tory councillors insisted election night was “beyond their wildest dreams” as the party won three seats. Discussions are now in full swing over forming a coalition with 23 seats in the borough now blue and leader Tony Cox confident of achieving a Tory minority administration. The party sits three seats short of having full control of the council. Mr Cox said: “The polls show this administration has been rejected. Residents don’t want the Independents propping up the council any more. “They’ve made no gain, and they’ve eroded the lead they’ve had. “What’s happened is beyond our wildest dreams.”
DOG owners could soon be allowed to bring their pooches to the beach in Southend. Southend Council is drawing up plans to present to cabinet members to potentially allow a stretch of beach in the borough to become dog friendly. The report is due to arrive next month and follows campaigns by residents and Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge to allow a section of beach to be open to dogs. Due to a public safety protection order, which was renewed this year, dogs are not allowed on any of the borough’s beaches between May 1 and September 30 every year.
DOG owners could soon be allowed to bring their pooches to the beach in Southend. Southend Council is drawing up plans to present to cabinet members to potentially allow a stretch of beach in the borough to become dog friendly. The report is due to arrive next month and follows campaigns by residents and Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge to allow a section of beach to be open to dogs. Due to a public safety protection order, which was renewed this year, dogs are not allowed on any of the borough’s beaches between May 1 and September 30 every year.
A man was talked to safety after going out onto the tracks in Southend A man had to be talked to safety after he walked out onto the railway line in Southend. Officers from British Transport Police and the Southend Local Policing team were involved in the operation to secure the man yesterday (Sunday, May 2) afternoon. They were called to part of the line near to Southend East station following a 999 call about a drunk male in mental health crisis. Officers said the man had put himself in a very dangerous position but was eventually talked away from the line and to safety.