Basildon Essex
Archive for May, 2011
Duke of Gloucester opens Basildon Sporting Village
May 17th
A ROYAL carried on his family’s tradition by opening a state-of-the-art sports complex at the park his father opened 50 years ago.
The Duke of Gloucester officially opened the £38million Sporting Village in Gloucester Park, Basildon as part of a tour of south Essex.
The Duke, who is the Queen’s cousin, said he was “delighted” to open the new facility and follow in his father Prince Henry’s footsteps who had opened the park 50 years previously.
Ms Palmer said: “It is wonderful to have him here and it is obvious that he was quite impressed by the facilities. To have any member of the Royal Family come to the area is great.”
via Echo / Basildon Council
For timetables, opening times and more information, check out: everyoneactive.com
Playground revamp is plagued by yobs
May 14th
YOBS are trashing a new playground almost every night, putting its opening in jeopardy.
Basildon Council is spending £275,000 revamping the popular Langdon Hills Recreation Ground in New Avenue.
The play area is due to reopen this summer, but some residents fear it may be delayed if mindless thugs continue their vandalism spree.
Teenagers have even been spotted climbing on to diggers at the site and taking pictures of themselves.
Roger Jones, 40 of Roseberry Avenue, Langdon Hills, said: “The council would have done very well if it manages to complete the new play area in time, because every morning it looks as though it has been vandalised by kids.
via Echo
Update 02 June 11:
AN angry councillor has branded vandals who targeted two new playgrounds before they opened as “scum”.
The playground site at Swan Mead, Vange, was attacked by yobs who ripped down builders’ security fences to get in, leaving the unfinished area open for children to put themselves at risk.
Four arrested over horse murder rape
May 12th
A total of four people have now been arrested in connection with the murder and sexual assault of a horse.
The horse was found hacked to death in stables in Stifford Hill, Stifford on Monday.
The Shetland pony had been sexually assaulted during the attack.
A 31-year-old man from South Ockendon was arrested and bailed at the time.
On Thursday police arrested a 30-year-old man from South Ockendon and two others for assisting an offender.
They all remain in police custody where they are being questioned.
via Echo
Bowls club trashed
May 7th
THIEVES stole a charity box then scrawled the words “cheers for the money!” on the wall during a raid on a bowls club.
Officials from the Corringham Bowls Club say louts have struck every night for almost a week at their clubhouse, in Recreation Avenue.
The relentless rampage of destruction has seen intruders smashing windows with fire extinguishers, pouring bleach over the carpet, snapping off door handles and stealing club equipment.
Police are investigating.
via Echo
Train station vandal cautioned after Facebook brag
May 4th
A MAN has been cautioned by police after he bragged on Facebook about vandalising a railway station.
A spokeswoman for the transport police said: “A 23-year-old man from Stanford-le-Hope has received a police caution following an incident of criminal damage at Stanford-le-Hope rail station on Tuesday, January 18.”
On his Facebook page Budd said: “If ur missing a wheeley bin this morning in Stanny, it’s either in the phone box or I threw it off the bridge over the station on to the platform.
“It was fun at the time.”
Police said a picket fence was hurled on to the tracks and stones and rocks were thrown at the booking hall, smashing the windows. A bicycle in a rack was also stamped on and a wheelie bin was thrown from the footbridge on to the platform.
Mr Budd said he carried out the vandalism after drinking “Carling, Fosters, Jagerbombs and vodka and coke”.
via Echo
Paedophile attacks seven-year-old boy
May 4th
A PREDATORY paedophile admitted luring a seven-year-old boy into a restaurant toilet before subjecting him to a sickening sex attack.
Dean Freeman, 24, from Hamstel Road, Southend, had only recently been freed from prison after serving half of his five-year, eight-month jail term for abducting a ten-year-old boy.
Freeman had been released on licence and was staying at the controversial Felmores Bail Hostel, in Pitsea, which houses serious sex offenders and other criminals.
Freeman, went into Basildon town centre two weeks ago today, on Friday, April 15.
He went into a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant and lured a seven-year-old boy into the toilets where he then forced the child to perform a sex act with him.
The alarm was raised and Freeman was soon arrested and charged.
via Echo
Update 09 August 2011:
Convicted paedophile jailed for ten years.
Basildon Sporting Village opens
May 2nd
Basildon’s £38million sporting village has officially opened “on time and on budget.”
Thousands of people flocked to the brand new complex for the grand opening on Saturday attended by swimming legends Duncan Goodhew and Mark Foster and Paralympic athlete Danny Crates.
Stephen Horgan, Basildon councillor in charge of regeneration, said: “This is absolutely for the benefit of our community and will transform the sporting chances of so many people throughout the borough, whether they aspire to be an elite athlete or just want to exercise more.”
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Woman found collapsed after sex attack
May 1st
A WOMAN was found collapsed in the street following a sex attack.
The 30-year-old suffered a sexual assault at the junction of Whitmore Way and Honeypot Lane, Basildon between midnight and 1.15am on Sunday.
She then made her way along Whitmore Way to The Hatherley where she was found collapsed by police officers.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
The woman was wearing a white dress and has not yet been able to give police officers a description of her attacker.
via Echo
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