NEWS FROM CHALKWELL WARD Spring 2017

CONSERVATIVES Southend West Conservative Association, Iveagh Hall, 67 Leigh Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS9 1JW

Editor: Nigel Folkard

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POPPIES AT BARGE PIER Chalkwell Councillors are pleased that Southend has been selected to host the Poppies ‘Wave’ sculpture at Barge Pier, against the picturesque back drop of coastal views, as a poignant reminder to those who fought valiantly in WW1. South-end remains one of only two areas select-ed across the UK in hosting the poppies, and we consider it a privilege in having contributed to the support for the iconic display from its proposal at Council through to completion. The public response has also been wonderful, with over two hundred volunteers gained and many thousands of visits made.

Cllr Nigel Folkard

The Certificate of Honorary Alderman was presented to four former councillors, as a special recognition by Southend Council as a thank you for their years of service

The title of Honorary Alderman is given to those who have served the Council for at least 15 years, and have rendered eminent service to the Council.

We offer our congratulations to Richard on receiving this prestigious award.

FORMER CHALKWELL COUNCILLOR RICHARD BROWN IS

AWARDED HONORARY ALDERMAN

Richard & Marjorie Brown & daughter Suzane

The Council’s Appointments and Disciplinary Committee have recom-mended to Full Council that Alison Griffin is appointed as the Council’s new Chief Executive and Town Clerk. The recommendation follows a national recruitment and selection process. Alison Griffin is currently Director of Finance and Corporate Services at the London Borough of Bexley, having previously been Assistant Director for Communities at the London Borough of Camden from May 2010 to August 2013 and then Deputy Director of Finance at the same authority until September 2014. Cllr John Lamb, Leader of the Council, says: “The Appointments and Disci-plinary Committee were delighted to recommend to Full Council that Alison Griffin is appointed as the new Chief Executive and Town Clerk.

The recruitment and selection process was rigorous and proper, and all candidates should be congratulated for the professionalism and integrity in which it was carried out.” We look forward to welcoming Alison Griffin to her new post in July 2017.

NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE & TOWN CLERK

Lansdowne Avenue has now been altered to one-way to help traffic flow; this follows a lengthy consultation in which a majority of residents in the road com-plained about the chaos caused when motorists were unable to pass each other when travelling in opposite directions.

Cllr Habermel who campaigned for the changes commented that he hoped the new system would make the lives of residents and motorists easier, and added that he would like to thank all residents of Lansdowne Avenue for their patience in bringing about the changes.

LANSDOWNE AVENUE GOES ONE-WAY

Cllr Stephen Habermel

Southend Borough Council’s Development Control Committee have rejected plans for additional car parking spaces to be implemented at the back of The Shore Development, with access down Grosvenor Mews. Cllr Burzotta has campaigned against these plans, having publicly spoken at the committee of the distress this would cause residents if granted, stating “there is already secure underground parking available at the site for each flat occupied, for what was initially projected to be a landscaped area, safety issues are a concern, the loss of amenity space is unwelcome, including the undue stress such a volume of vehicles will cause resident’s in close proximity to the site.” David was elected on a mandate to oppose areas at risk of overbearing development. An appeal has now been made to the Secretary Of State against this decision, with the outcome yet to be decided upon, nonetheless David believes resident’s views must and indeed should take priority.

AGAINST OVERBEARING DEVELOPMENT

Cllr David Burzotta

CLLR NIGEL FOLKARD WORKING ALONGSIDE ARTIST

MARIE ARCEO, BEACH COMBING

Metal Culture (Chalkwell) has invited artist Maria Arceo to Southend as part of their Artist in Residence Programme, to continue her journey along the Thames

She will be collecting plastics from the foreshores for her project, Thames Plastics & the Exploration of Future Dust.

After beach combing and identifying, she transforms them into a building material. This provides the viewer with a new and engaging perspective of plastics attributes, historicity, impact and value.

Cllr Nigel Folkard & Maria Arceo

HELP SOUTHEND-ON-SEA BOROUGH MARK 125 YEARS

Plans for a series of special events to mark 125 years since the incorporation of the Borough of Southend-on-Sea are gathering pace. The 125th anniversary begins with the iconic Poppies sculpture, Wave at Barge Pier in Shoeburyness from 12 April until 25 June. This will be followed by a wide range of community events throughout the summer and culminate on the pier on 24 September with ‘Silk River”: a creative regional event linking the Thames Estuary with the Hooghly River in Kolkata.

To follow activities being organised as part of the 125th year celebrations visit the Councill’s website at www.southend.gov.uk

Promoted by Nigel Folkard of 67 Leigh Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS9 1JW. Printed by Solopress, 9 Stock Road, Southend on Sea, Essex SS2 5QF

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YOUR LOCAL CONSERVATIVE TEAM

COUNCILLOR STEPHEN HABERMEL

6 Leas Gardens, Southend on Sea, SS0 8JL

01702 478354 - cllrhabermel@southend.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR NIGEL FOLKARD

25 Hayes Barton, Southend on Sea, SS1 3TS 07989 390878, 01702 212869 cllrfolkard@southend.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR DAVID BURZOTTA

60 Genesta Rd., Westcliff on Sea, SS0 8DB

077535 43658 - cllrburzotta@southend.gov.uk

CHALKWELL WARD RESIDENTS’

ASSOCIATION

HALL FOR HIRE

Do you need a venue for a social function? Are you looking for a hall to hire on a weekly basis?

Iveagh Hall, 67 Leigh Road is used for all sorts of functions and group classes, i.e. fitness classes, e.g. yoga, pilates, karate; slimming classes, travel club and even a sewing group!

The hall is available for function hire, on request. Hourly rate is £25 per function.

If you are looking to hire on a regular weekly basis for a particular class, the hourly rate is £20.

For further information please call 01702 472391.

SOUTHEND AIRPORT INVESTS £3 MILLION

ON IMPROVEMENTS

SOUTHEND Airport is investing millions of pounds into improvements to help cater for increasing demand, bosses say. The airport says it is investing £3million to improve the quality and service it provides. The pro-ject involves major resurfacing of taxiways which were originally constructed in the 1950s.

Additional aircraft parking stands will also be added so

the airport can cater for more planes.

COUNCIL TAX UP TO PROTECT VITAL

SERVICES

Central Government is expecting Councils to raise more and more of their own funding. In order to ensure:

Continued care for the elderly and most vulnerable

Frozen car parking charges, and

Continued investment in schools’ perfor-mance,

the Administration felt it was necessary to ask residents to pay a little more and, therefore, in-creased council tax by 1.99% plus a 3% special Adult Social Care charge.