Last month, reports the BBC News website, Basildon District Council gave those living on the greenbelt site at Hovefields Drive 28 days to leave the camp. After the deadline expired the council began work to clear seven unauthorised pitches from the site. The travellers have now moved to nearby land.

Gratton Puxon, a founder of the Gypsy Council, stated: “We’re very alarmed by this. We hope people will have some sympathy with families who look like being put out and have nowhere to go.”

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball replied: “This action, which is supported by the courts, is the final part of a legal process which has lasted many years.

“The council has done all it can to encourage the travellers to vacate voluntarily. However, Basildon Council has an obligation to protect its greenbelt from unauthorised development.”

Hovefields has been the subject of a number of enforcement notices dating back to 1998.

The ruling Council administration wish to sell off land in Kent View Road, used by youth soccer teams and families for generations, to a property developer in order to help fund the £38m it is costing to build the controversial Gloucester Park Sporting Village.

At the the latest public meeting, however, held at the Basildon Lower Academy in Timberlog Close, angry locals made their feelings clear. Waving placards and using loudhailers, one protestor stated that not a single brick would be placed upon the fields.

A behind closed doors meeting between councillors is to be held on Monday 13 September at the council offices, where there appears to be mounting opposition to the sale of this and other land.

Following this will be a final full council meeting the following Thursday, 16 September, at the Towngate Theatre, open to the publc, when a final decision is expected to be made.

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Mr. Baron, BBC News confirms, recently sold the three-bedroom house for around £250,000, having bought it for £153,500 in 2000. He confirmed that all profit, after costs and capital gains tax were deducted, would go to a “range” of good causes.

Baron, a former soldier, stated that he believed it was the correct thing to do. He had previously claimed expenses for mortgage interest payments on the property, which doubled up as his constituency office, since he became an MP in 2001.

He had, however, come under fire last year over claiming increased expenses over and above the rate of inflation. Instead he will stay in a hotel if the need arises and rent an office for constituency work.

The MP, who served in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers before becoming a fund manager, stated that he felt most people entering politics do so for public services and not for financial reward. Mr. Baron also revealed that part of the money would go to those which help armed service personnel.

Speaking to the Yellow Advertiser, a member of Basildon District Council Council confirmed that they were looking at the idea on the basis that there could be many young people wanting to go to the Games but short of money.

The Council, he stated, would supervise the site for the duration of the games, provide basic amenities and perhaps install a big screen or even stage live music.

There would be a charge for users, with the council looking to take advantage of whatever opportunity there is to bring money “into ‘the district”.

Dan Smith, 24, a former builder from Billericay, was shot dead at a bar in Mijas last weekend. Mr Smith had himself been wanted by Essex Police in connection with the attempted murder of Douglas Turner on 7 July 2007 at Stock.

Police in Spain said a 27-year-old man from Ireland had been arrested in connection with Mr Smith’s death. Mr. Smith was shot outside a bar in the province of Malaga late on Saturday and bullets hit the walls where the shooting happened.

The Foreign Office said Mr Smith died on Sunday. A spokesman added it was providing consular assistance to his family. He said it could not comment further due to the police investigation

The Yellow Advertiser confirmed that the latest victim was a 25-year-old, who was walking in Nethermayne, near Basildon Hospital, when the man approached her and demanded her handbag. The woman, from Hornchurch, tripped and fell and the man grabbed the bag, with £40 in it, and ran off.

The robbery occurred at 3.45pm on Sunday, June 6. Investigating officer, DC Kerry McCarthy said: “It’s despicable to target lone women in such an aggressive manner.

“Three incidents have all happened around the same time of day and in roughly the same area. We ask people to be on their guard and not to walk alone in this area to prevent being targeted.”

The first victim was a young Basildon mum, who was pushing her baby in a buggy along Laindon Link. She was approached by a man at 2pm, on Saturday, May 29, who threatened her with a broken bottle, forcing her to hand over £50.

The second attack happened the following day as a 46-year-old woman was threatened and robbed of £40, just before 4.30pm near Basildon Hospital.

The attacker is described as white, in his 30s, approximately 5ft 8ins tall and of slim build. He had scruffy short wavy light brown hair and hard blue eyes, and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a white short sleeve T-shirt and blue jeans.

The victims were all uninjured.

Anyone with information in connection with these robberies is urged to contact detectives at Basildon Police Station on 0300 333 4444.

His visit gave Yvonne Williams a brief opportunity to raise a few queries with him. Immediately the chat finished, Stephen had to rush away to get back to the House of Commons.

Stephen Metcalfe intv with Yvonne 08.06.10

Credit to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

A family has been left devastated after fire ripped through a Wickford home yesterday afternoon.

The Essex Fire Service website confirmed that firefighters from Wickford, Basildon, Billericay, Rayleigh and Woodham Ferrers were called out to attend the blaze affecting two properties in Wick Lane at around 2.40pm.

At first the fire was contained to a garden shed but by 3pm had spread to another property and an exclusion zone had to be set up due to the presence of acetylene, an extremely flammable compound.

60 people were evacuated and resident Katherine Judd, 61, was left heartbroken as her home of 56 years was completely destroyed. By around 4.30pm the fire was under control and the evacuated people were allowed to return.

Assistant Divisional Officer Iain Macleod stated “The fire began in a shed which quickly spread to a detached bungalow, which has been made completely uninhabitable. At the height of the fire, some 35 firefighters were involved but because the content of the cylinders had not been identified at this stage, for their safety crews worked outside the building.

Agencies worked together to evacuate homes within the 100m exclusion zone and people went off to family, friends and local community areas and pubs nearby.”

The issue of vehicle damage was recently raised as a concern at a local Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP) meeting, and after the residents association also expressed concerns about crime at the Five Links Estate.

In the first incident, police were also called on Wednesday, April 28 after a car was set on fire in Mellow Purgess. The incident happened between 6.45pm and 12am. A Nissan car was set on fire, causing £9,000 damage after it was completely destroyed.

The second fire happened at 8.30pm on Sunday, May 9. A significant amount of damage was caused to a Vauxhall car, destroying the vehicle with fire damage.

Officers have given letters to every resident in the affected area, advising them who to contact if they see any suspicious activity, and also offering crime prevention advice on how to properly secure vehicles to stop them being targeted.

Lee Chapel North neighbourhood specialist officer, Pc Keith Baker, said: “We have already been running operations in the area to combat crime and anti-social behaviour, but we have now added extra patrols in the Newberry Side area and surrounding car parks to alleviate any fears residents have.

“We have already had positive feedback from the residents association, and we would like to hear from anyone in the area that wants reassurance or action taken on a particular issue.

The next NAP meeting will be held on Thursday, June 24 at the All About Centre, Leinster Road. All residents from Lee Chapel North are welcome to attend.