I am able to share good news with residents and patients of Dr Bhattacharya’s Surgery, at 258 Westborough Road.  There may have been concern that it would close and patients transferred to the North Road Primary Care Trust Clinic.  From a practical point of view the siting of the North Road Centre, at 1/2 mile from the closest bus stop in London Road, by the Cricketers, was always cause an issue with patients, without cars or the avaialble money to pay for Taxis, in accessing the Centre.

The press release from NHS England noted in the link below, should allay fears of this local Westborough surgery closing, for the time-being.

NHS_England_statement_on_258_Westborough_Road_GP_Surgery

Notice of a SGM of WCA at The Royal British Legion on Friday 17 May 2013, commencing 7:30pm

This is to agree an updated Constitution, followed by a meeting to discuss the latest Community issues.

UPDATE:

Report from SGM meeting;

The meeting mainly concentrated on the establishment of the new Constitution, which will now serve the Association well and will enable it to be robust and transparent  in its workings for the Westborough Community.  The Councillors gave brief reports and I was able to explain the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and its likely replacement of the imposition of Section 106 after April 2014. 

The implication for WCA is that if they are decide to,will be able under CIL, apply for part of the Levy from the Council.  There are certain conditions that WCA will have to meet in its formation for CIL and this is a point for future discussion.  

The immediate issue that I reported to the meeting was the tardiness of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in setting out on the process of instigating the CIL for the Borough.  For example Chelmsford and Colchester have already started the consultation with their communities to establish the Levy in those Towns.  there is a danger that Southend may miss out on the change of the use of Section 106 after April 2014, which limits it use, which could cost the town in excess of £400,000 at that time.

TOWIE Meets Mr Nigel Haven

My good friend, Chris Russell, was on hand to photograph the moment when TOWIE (The  Only Way Is Essex) visited Westcliff, in particulat the long standing family store, HAVENS, in Hamlet Court Road recently. 

TOWIE visits Havens in Westcliff-on-Sea

I am very happy to use these photographs to promote Havens and the Hamlet Court Road shopping area. 

For more of Chris’ photographs, go to http://www.chrisrussellphotographer.com/

I was pleased to join WCA members and other Westborough Councillors on Saturday to help to bring to Residents attention the Budget cuts expected from the Council service in Libraries across the Town.  There is to be a consultation held by the Council on the proposals for the direct operation from the new Central Library (The Focus) and to operate two hubs, one in the East and one in the West, to be at either Leigh Library or Kent Elm Library.  The proposal of the Consultation is that one of the Shoebury Libraries, along with either Kent Elms or Leigh Library (depending on the one that is not the Western hub) along with Southchurch Library and WESTCLIFF LIBRARY to be offered to the Community to be run as Volunteer Library, with the Council supplying books etc, along with managerial support for the services offered.

There is a lot to be discussed and WCA along with myself and the other Ward Councillors will ensure as many Residents as possible are made aware of the plans and respond to the Consultation.

Free treats for hungry plants – welcomed by worms too!

As reported by the Evening Echo; 10 May 2013

260 bags of rubbish cleared from alleyway

 

CLLR PAUL COLLINS & DAVID WEBB

 

TIRELESS volunteers have spent six months clearing more than 260 bags of rubbish from the most cluttered alleyway in Southend.

Westborough Community Association members have given up countless weekends to clear rubbish, including mattresses, carpets and a plastic child’s slide, from the alleyway between Beedell Avenue and Ramuz Drive in Westcliff; Chairman David Webb said: “That is the worst alleyway in the whole of the borough.

“Originally you could look down it or walk down it at all.  We have been clearing it for six months.”

Westborough Ward councillors Paul Collins and Martin Terry helped the volunteers finish the job on Saturday, April 27, when the group collected 35 black bags of rubbish as well as a mattress, two carpets, wood, a child’s plastic slide, large amounts of plastic and rubble. Mr Webb, 37, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff, said lazy tenants, rogue landlords and passersby dump rubbished in the alleyways meant to give residents access to the back of their properties.

The alleyway is closed off at the Beedell Avenue end. It has a gate at the Ramuz Drive, but it is unlocked to give tenants access.The community association now hopes to work with residents to install combination locks on the gates so only they can get in.Mr Terry, who is also spokesman for the Independent group, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that the community association are doing this.“It’s the only way to show leadership and get people to display more responsibility in the area.”

The councillor blamed the high number of people living in short-term rented flats in the area for not taking responsibility. He said: “We shouldn’t have to be doing it. This is partly a symptom of having a lot of people living in the area who aren’t stakeholders.

“We have got a lot of transient people living in rented accommodation and we have to get them to show more responsibility.”

Mr Terry hopes the South East Alliance of Landlords, Agents and Residents, {SEAL} of which he is a board member, will help identify and deal with problem properties it has accredited, allowing the council to focus efforts on unaccredited homes.

Link here for more information about SEAL  http://www.southend.gov.uk/downloads/download/810/south_east_alliance_of_landlords_agents_and_residents_seal

Route 29 in Fairfax Drive

New Times for Route 29 along Fairfax Drive from today; click here for the

new Timetable: Route 29 from 6 May

Essex Election Result 2013;

Conservatives;  42 Councillors

Liberal Democrats;  9 Councillors

Labour; 9  Councillors

UKIP; 9 Councillors

Independents /Resident Assocs;  4 Councillors

Green Party; 2 Councillors

WESTCLIFF LIBRARY IS UNDER THREAT………

JOIN WCA AND COUNCILLORS OUTSIDE WESTCLIFF LIBRARY ON SATURDAY 11th MAY…

Come and join us on the WCA Awareness Day

COME BACK FOR MORE DETAILS>>>

The Council is aiming to receive Capital Grants to improve the Road Junctions on the A127/ Prince Avenue between and including The Bell and Kent Elms.  It is important that Westborough Residents are aware of this Consultation as the increasing flow of traffic up along Southbourne & Westbourne Groves acting as distributor roads from and to the A127.   The flow of traffic and also the size of vehicles is a problem, and the weight limit at the A127 slip road needs better enforcement.  Paul

Kent Elms, Tesco and The Bell Junctions