Southend Council has again supported a number of local children in their quest to pass the 11 plus, by running another Holiday School this summer.
 
The activities, funded by the council, ran for four mornings this week at The Tickfield Centre, with Year 5 pupils from a variety of schools studying English and maths, past papers, and completing maths and comprehension games.
 
The sessions work on social skills and teamwork through interactive English and maths puzzles and games.  It is in an open plan environment with face-to face group work for the majority of the course.
 
The sessions are staffed by members of Southend High School for Boys, led by John Brandon.
 
Cllr James Courtenay, Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, said: “We are funding these schools because it is a priority to give more local residents a chance of attending one of the four grammar schools in the Borough, particularly those that come from a potentially disadvantaged background.
 
“We are also committed to improving opportunities for all local children and this includes improving educational standards where necessary. As part of this we are working hard to improve the information available to pupils and parents on grammar schools and the 11+, and we are delighted to be able to continue these holiday sessions.
 
“They will be part of a longer term support programme being run over three consecutive long holidays for the following September entry.
 
“As well as academic study, the intention is also to build confidence and social interaction and we are really seeing that already with the current intake.
 
“The holiday school is challenging but engaging. For some of these children, they may be the first in their family to have the opportunity to go to a grammar school and the aim will be to provide the children with a flavour/taste of aspiration to go to a grammar school.” 

​Five spectacular Southend parks have scooped a national accolade for being among the best in the country.
 
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has again awarded prestigious ‘Green Flag Awards’ to Belfairs, Chalkwell, Priory, Shoebury and Southchurch Parks, ranking them among the best 137 parks and green spaces in the East of England.
 
The Green Flag Award® scheme is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK. It was first launched in 1996 to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country.
 
Together they join a record-breaking list of 1,686 other parks, cemeteries, universities, shopping centres and community gardens in Britain which have all met the high standard needed to achieve the Green Flag Award or the Green Flag Community Award.
 
These were judged by more than 700 green space experts, who visited the sites and assessed them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.
 
Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism & The Economy, Cllr Ann Holland, said: “This is brilliant news for the Borough and testifies to the fantastic work the our parks team puts in every day into maintaining our beautiful parks and green spaces.
 
“As well as their trees and attractive planting, our parks host an array of other attractions ranging from the Bandstand in Priory Park with free musical performances, major events such as Village Green in Chalkwell Park, to tennis courts, sports grounds, children’s play areas and outdoor gyms.”
 
Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Awards.
 
"All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award."
 
Earlier this year, it was announced that three Southend beaches had been awarded Blue Flags, with all seven awarded the coveted “Seaside Award”.

Southend's new seafront lagoon, that will ensure visitors can enjoy a swim in the sea even when the tide is out, will officially open on Thursday afternoon (July 21st).
 
Over 14,000 cubic tonnes of granite rock mark out the new football pitch sized lagoon, and it is hoped that the new facility will provide another popular destination for our many visitors and residents too.
 
Sheets of welded metal inside the rock walls retain the seawater when the tide comes in, whilst rubberised material at the base of the wall will prevent silt and mud from entering and exiting the lagoon. Valves have been installed into the wall so that the lagoon can be emptied and refilled, ensuring a high quality of regularly-replenished bathing water. The lagoon will be 1.1 metres at its deepest.
 
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, said: “We are all pleased and excited that this work has now finished in time for the school holidays.  I hope that residents and visitors alike will use this wonderful free facility to experience a dip in the sea, whether the tide is in or not.
 
“Our healthy tourism economy supports around 7,000 jobs but we should never be complacent.  That is why we continually look to evolve and improve our seafront offer and seek external funding and private investment to do this. This project is a great example of doing just that.”
 
Stockvale Group are key partners in the project and Marc Miller, Managing Director, said: “The Stockvale Group is delighted that 'Three Shells Lagoon’ is now open.
 
“We believe it will prove very popular for families, who will be able to enjoy the beach and water, all day, every day, throughout the year. In addition to the wonderful lagoon and beach, visitors will also be getting much needed toilet facilities, showers and landscaping.
 
“This prestigious development will provide a boost to local businesses, which will without doubt provide confidence, further investment and jobs. This will help Southend to keep one step ahead of other resorts and certainly give visitors something to come back for time and time again.”
 
Under the plans, the ageing jetty at Three Shells Beach is also being replaced for use by the Alexandra Yacht Club and Lower Thames Rowing Club, adding to the water sports opportunities at the central seafront.
 
Linda McKay, Commodore of The Alexandra Yacht Club, said: “The lagoon is not only an exciting addition to the town, but it has been developed to provide safe sailing off the foreshore for not only the members of the Alexandra Yacht Club but also the Lower Thames Rowing Club.
 
“The yacht club has been sailing off this part of the foreshore since 1873. The yacht club, along with the rowing club, hope to keep our historic presence alive, whilst providing valuable water-based activities on this central section of the foreshore for everyone to watch, or take part in, alongside the lagoon facility."
 
The project has been supported by £125,000 of Government Coastal Communities funding.

World-leading experts from across business and government are today launching a Thames Estuary growth plan, to boost productivity, attract and retain skilled workers and capitalise on major infrastructure works.

The 'Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission' to be unveiled at an event at the Queen Elizabeth II Park, promises to put in place a vision which will "unleash growth for decades to come".

The Commission led by Lord Heseltine – the architect of some of Britain's most successful regeneration projects like London Docklands and Liverpool city centre – will consult with businesses and others before submitting their plans to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement 2017.

Lord Heseltine will say today: "This government is determined to ensure every part of the country benefits from a growing economy and all the evidence suggests that the Thames Estuary has incredible economic potential.

"This Commission presents a wonderful opportunity, not only to make the most of plans already afoot, but to look beyond that and forge ahead with a vision to unleash growth for decades to come.

"We have brought together world-leading industry experts and would urge others with an interest in the region and good ideas to now come forward and contribute."

The Thames Estuary region stretches 40 miles from Canary Wharf in London to Southend in Essex and Thanet in Kent. With a population of more than 3 million its unique location and potential means it is a long-term national priority for growth.

In the Budget 2016 the Chancellor announced that a new Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission would be formed to take current investment to another level – to create jobs and opportunity along the mouth of the Thames Estuary for decades to come. Now a team of 17 world-leading experts have been brought together to set out how to make this vision a reality.

The Commission's initial work will focus on 6 workstreams:

1. Creating high productivity clusters 
2. Increasing connectivity 
3. Creating new homes and communities 
4. Securing investment 
5. Harnessing innovation in the built environment 
6. Putting it together: centres of excellence 

​The Commission will take account of major projects and current industry planning processes involving a range of organisations, including but not limited to Highways England, Network Rail, Transport for London, local government and the Local Enterprise Partnerships.

The Commission will not, however, seek to re-open or delay existing work being undertaken by any of the above. Instead it will look at how to make the most of these opportunities, including what related infrastructure may be required to accelerate growth.

For more information, download the  Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission: call for ideas  document. 

An ambitious project to construct 18 new council houses across six old garage sites in Shoeburyness is progressing well, with local councillors set to see the progress at a site visit next week.
 
DCB (Kent) Ltd are building the affordable housing units and started on site in March with the garage demolitions.
 
The £2.8m project is phased, with full completion expected by Spring 2017. Exeter Close and Bulwark Road will be completed first, with the four sites in Ashanti Close to follow.
 
Cllr Mark Flewitt, Executive Councillor for Housing, says: “I am delighted that this project is proceeding so well.  Addressing housing need is well documented across the country and in Southend-on-Sea it is greater than ever.
 
“The construction of 18 high quality homes for affordable rent is a substantial number that will make a real difference to local people and shows the innovative nature of this council.
 
“This is the first time in decades that a project like this has been undertaken and I hope it will pave the way for further ambitious council housing schemes.”
 
The homes are being built to Lifetime Homes, Secured by Design and the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 Standards with two of the ground floor flats in Ashanti Close being designed and built for use by disabled tenants.
 
All the houses will all have off street parking for two vehicles. The parking adjacent to the new houses has been redesigned to improve parking provision for the surrounding residents and the area in front of the new Ashanti flats has been redesigned to provide additional parking for local residents.