It has been confirmed by the Care Quality Commission that Basildon Hospital now meets the minimum hygiene standards.

The health regulator confirmed an unannounced follow-up inspection was made this month and found the trust has now met the requirements.

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After almost a week of no refuse collections, Thurrock residents have been informed by their council that attempts will be made to start collections today.

They have also assured householders that any refuse bagged and left at the side of the road will also be collected.

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A health centre in Canvey Island helped Christmas come early for some lucky children.

Staff at the Central Canvey Primary Care Centre, in Long Road, handed out presents from their own sleigh, to give something back to the community.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area this morning.

Thurrock Council have confirmed that, due to the continuing icy conditions, it is not possible to make any refuse collections today.

Attempts will be made, however, to start collections tomorrow and any refuse bagged and left at the side of the road will also be collected.

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A health centre in Canvey Island helped Christmas come early for some lucky children.

Staff at the Central Canvey Primary Care Centre, in Long Road, handed out presents to the youngsters from their very own sleigh, to give something back to the community.

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Police in Basildon and Thurrock have re-launched a DNA property marking project following a recent rise in burglaries across the area.

The product is an advanced forensic crime reduction system and involves applying a liquid to any valuable property.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area this afternoon.

Basildon & East Thurrock MP Angela Smith has criticised Basildon District Council’s handling of the continuing controversy over the Basildon golf course redevelopment.

She told Gateway FM of  her support for the protestors, her concern over air pollution caused by the proposed dumping of thousands of tonnes of building site spoil and spoke of her approach to the District Auditor for a ruling as to whether the Council’s policy is in the best interests of local taxpayers.

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Essex County Council has defended its road gritting policy, stressing its main task of keeping major routes safe has been achieved.

But Castle Point MP Bob Spink is critical that not enough was done to keep secondary roads safe even though the snow and freezing temperatures were predicted.

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Some Thurrock residents have still not had their rubbish collected since Friday, when the Council halted collections for safety reasons in view of the icy ground conditions.

In an official statement, the Council says the situation will be reviewed when conditions permit.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area this morning.

Basildon & East Thurrock MP Angela Smith has spoken out against the local authorities contempt for local residents.

Citing the behaviour of Basildon District Council over plans to redevelop the golf course, she described their actions as having ridden roughshod over residents wishes.

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Basildon Council Chairperson Mo Larkin has revealed that she defended the town’s honour at a recent garden party.

Mo was left aghast at a recent function, where a dignitary claimed that the town was where they have a murder every week, and castigated the embarrassed official in full view of guests.

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Some Thurrock residents have still not had their rubbish collected since Friday – and no definite date has been set for collection.

In an official statement, the Council has said the situation will be reviewed later today after they ruled it too dangerous to make collections.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area this evening.

Basildon District Council chairperson Mo Larkin has spoken of how she has defended the town’s honour.

Talking exclusively on this show, Ms. Larkin castigated a guest’s criticism of the area at a garden party and commented “I am proud of Basildon and proud of its people.”

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Some Thurrock residents have still not had their rubbish collected since Friday – and no definite date has been set for collection.

In an official statement, the Council has said the situation will be reviewed later today after they ruled it too dangerous to make collections.

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Castle Point MP Bob Spink has joined in the furore over the issue of ungritted pathways leaving the public in danger.

The independent MP said that failure to grit pathways is a major problem in the area and has led to numerous accidents and injuries.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area this afternoon.

Police officers from across Basildon and Thurrock have been commended for bravery.

14 officers were honoured during a ceremony at Essex Police headquarters and their Chief Constable, Jim Baker-McCardle said: he was very proud of them.

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The MP for Basildon & East Thurrock, Angela Smith, was also on hand to present honours, this time the V50 awards to young volunteers in the “v-inspired” project in the area. .

Ten of the awards, which recognise 50 hours of volunteer service, were presented to young people between the ages of 16 and 25 at the Linx Centre.

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Billericay MP John Baron has joined up with Piper Terrett, the ‘Green Voice of the UK’, to call for all householders in the constituency to stop wasting energy.

The Energy Saving Trust has found that the average carbon footprint for residents in Billericay is nearly 20% larger than the UK average.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area this afternoon.

Police have appealed for a witness to come forward after a man was robbed in broad daylight on Pitsea Broadway.

At least a thousand pounds was stolen when the man was attacked on Sunday morning and it’s thought a woman, with a pram and young child, was walking by.

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Bob Spink, MP for Castle Point, has carried on with helping out constituents across the borough in the freezing conditions.

Having spent Thursday night running emergency journeys, Mr. Spink confirmed that he had since been to Canvey, helping elderly people on iced up paths.

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Basildon & East Thurrock MP Angela Smith has welcomed a tripling in this winter’s Cold Weather Payments for the needy.

If the temperature hits zero for seven days in a row, payments of £25 a week will be made to those in need.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area this morning.

It’s been revealed that Basildon District Council have given the people behind the controversial golf course revamp over £36,000 to keep it going through the winter months.

This comes on top of a rent-free perk to 2012 and a £60,000 loan previously arranged.

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Two of Thurrock’s prospective parliamentary candidates have been revealed.

Labour have gone for Carl Morris, a Thurrock councillor for over 20 years, to defend their 6,000 majority, while the Liberal Democrats have chosen Carys Davis.

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Castle Point Police have welcomed an agreement laying out service standards for taxi firms throughout the area.

The drivers have agreed to be presentable, punctual, courteous and will at all times drive safely within the law.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area today.

Castle Point MP Bob Spink, has blasted the council over ungritted roads as he went to the aid of local residents.

He completed three emergency trips to get people home, and said that various main roads were untreated, which was simply not good enough.

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After much debate, the foundations have finally been laid for the controversial £38m sporting village in Gloucester Park, Basildon.

The project is being part-funded by selling off leisure amenities already in use and should be built by April 2011.

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Thurrock Council is supporting proposals from two sets of school governors that they should look at merging.

At a cabinet meeting this week it was agreed that a consultation into the merger of Quarry Hill Infant and Junior schools should go ahead.

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These are the stories making the headlines in your area today.

Following road and footpath checks early today Thurrock Council have decided it would be unsafe to carry out waste and recycling collections.

It’s been confirmed, however, that today’s collections will be carried out tomorrow wherever possible.

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John Baron, MP for Billericay, attended the launch of the ‘Manifesto for life’ in Parliament.

In conjunction with ‘europacolon’, an independent not-for-profit organisation, and the national charity Bowel Cancer UK, the manifesto calls for improvements in colorectal cancer screening.

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Crimestoppers is warning burglars in Basildon that time is running out for them.

A campaign has been launched by them to tackle domestic burglary across the district, by targeting residents to provide information, as well as letting serial burglars know they are more likely than ever to be caught.

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These are the stories, apart from the weather, making the headlines in your area this afternoon.