Southend-on-Sea News Stories » Announcements

Southend Census 2011

Sarfend — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:01:07 +0000

Just a reminder that this weekend sees National Census Day - Southenders have to complete the rather hefty Census form on Sunday the 27th of March.

Each person staying at your house on the day will need to answer the 42 questions on the 32 page form. Questions include:

H11. Do you have solid wood central heating
25. Did you get 4 O levels?
30 Were you a student last week?
41. Do you take a taxi to work?

Filling in the census is compulsory, and the information is primarily to be used to help both the Government and local authorities to plan for the future.

In the event you need help completing the form, there are a number of drop-in sessions in various places around Southend over the next few weeks. There’s more on the census on the Southend Council site at http://www.southend.gov.uk/census

Happy form-filling Southenders!

Happy Chinese New Year, Southend

Sarfend — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:45:55 +0000

It’s the year of the Rabbit, and Southend is celebrating today.

All day today, Saturday the 5th of February 2011, there are a number of activities taking place to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The day’s events kicked off at 11am with a short speech by the Mayor of Southend, then an impressive display of Chinese lions dancing for the gather crowds outside and inside the Victoria Shopping Centre.

Chinese New Year 2011 celebrations kick off in Southend-on-Sea

Events include acrobatics in the Victoria Shopping Centre, lantern-making for the kids in The Royals, Origami, Tai Chi, Chinese Opera face painting, and a lantern parade on the high street at 4pm. The day wraps up at 4:10pm with a Chinese Lion Dance and a Firecracker Finale in York Road at 4:30pm.

Day’s New Year festivities are supported by the South Essex Chinese Association and Southend Radio.

Happy New Year, all!

Have your say on Southend cuts

Sarfend — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:24:55 +0000

Southend Borough Council’s “Creating a Better Southend” survey is coming to an end. If you care about what happens in Southend-on-Sea, you have until Sunday 31st October 2010 to have your say.

Planning is underway for the 2011/12 budget, and with Government departments being forced to make tough cutbacks, there could be tough decisions ahead. Accordingly, the Council’s canvassing opinions to see what Southenders value highly, and not so highly.

The online survey takes around five minutes to complete and identifies where you think Southend Council could save money by cutting back on certain services.

Screenshot from Southend Survey

To take part in the survey, go to: A Better Southend Survey

Leigh-on-Sea on TV tonight

Sarfend — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:23:04 +0000

Leigh-on-Sea will be featured tonight on ITV documentary “Countrywise at War”, looking at one cockle-boat, the Endeavour, and how it played its part in the Dunkirk landings. More on Countrywise.

The documentary is on ITV1 tonight (Sunday 8th August 2010) at 7pm. If you miss it, it’s likely to be available via the ITV Player

Southend Airshow Day One

Sarfend — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:18:02 +0000

Day One of the Southend Air Show (“Festival of the Air”) is drawing to a close. Visibility’s been great, but the high winds have caused a couple of displays to be cancelled, including the Battle of Britain flypast. The winds have not stopped some impressive flying from various RAF aircraft, a display by the rescue helicopter, stunt flying and wing-walkers. Sadly, no Red Arrows this year.

Ending today was a very noisy display from the always-impressive Typhoon.

Weather’s looking great for Bank Holiday Monday’s free show on the seafront, and as well as planes, there’s fun for all the family (as they say) right the way along Western Esplanade.

Not a great day for photos here on Western Esplanade, but here are a couple.

Southend Airshow Weekend

Sarfend — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:00:20 +0000

In case it’s escaped your notice, this weekend is a bank holiday weekend, and in Southend, it’s the Southend Airshow. Two days of aircraft buzzing the crowds gathered below along Southend seafront.

Taking part this year wil be the Mustang, Sabra, Sea King, RAF Falcons, Kittyhawk, the Typhoon and the Tornado. There will also be a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Sadly, the Red Arrows won’t be taking part this year, as a result of a mid-air collision during a training flight in Crete this March.

See what some of the locals are saying about this year’s airshow lineup in our forum.

Flying starts from 1:30pm both days. As well as the action in the air, there are a number of activities on the ground too – including the RAF, Army and Navy. As in previous years, visitors will also be able to try various rides and simulators, a giant inflatable’, and various other activities.

Handy Airshow links:

Southend Airshow 2010 Flying Programme
Southend Travel – Information on travelling to Southend

We’d also encourage anyone keen to keep up-to-date on the event, local travel, and commentaries on the flights, to tune to the excellent radio service offered by local radio station BBC Essex. Tune in to Radio Airshow on 1530AM to hear comprehensive coverage of Sunday and Monday’s air festival.

Those locals not interested in aircraft or crowds, are expected to vacate the town, or do what our office cat was doing this afternoon during the test flight of something very noisy over Westcliff… hiding.

We wish all those visiting and taking part in the airshow well, and we all have our fingers and paws crossed that we get two days of dry and sunny weather.

New Southend Essentials Guide

Sarfend — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:42:47 +0000

A new addition to our site – Southend Essentials.

Southend Essentials is a handy one-page guide to visiting Southend-on-Sea. It’s intended as a single sheet that you can print out and bring with you. The guide includes train times, phone numbers, attractions, food and drink, plus accommodation.

It’s available as a PDF (for one-page printing), or as a web page.

Suggestions for the next version are welcomed.

No Southend Christmas Lights in 2008

Sarfend — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Bad news for visitors to Southend as the famous seafront illuminations are set to remain off in 2008.

The Southend-on-Sea Christmas lights weren’t on in 2007. The reason? The Southend Seafront Illuminations and Business Association chose not to light the lights in 2007 due to the “spiralling costs and increasing maintenance” needed to keep the bulbs burning.

Originally set to return in 2009, a news story on the Echo News website earlier this year highlighted that the seafront illuminations may now be un-illuminated until 2010.

Southend to become a ‘Repect Zone’

Sarfend — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 07:29:00 +0000

Tony Blair has announced that Southend-on-Sea is to be one of 40 UK towns and cities to become a ‘Respect Zone’, which seems to mean that extra money will be supplied to provide parenting classes, tackle truancy and advise the public on taking action against so-called “neighbours from hell”.

Full details: Independant Online article

Solar power for Southend

Sarfend — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:30:00 +0000

Thanks to Nita from Southend Solar scheme for getting in touch with this. They provide grants for up to £1500 for the installation of Solar Hot Water systems, with prices starting at around £2,500. This offer is open to anyone who owns their home and lives in the borough of Southend. There is also the possibility that you can get a home assistance loan, if you are on a low income or qualifying benefits. It is possible for everyone in Southend to help to reduce carbon emmisions and protect the environment for more information about the scheme and your eligibilty call 0800 0966356 (there are more details on the Southend Council Web)

Southend Bikeathon this September

Sarfend — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 10:20:00 +0000

The Southend Bikeathon takes place on Sunday September 10th 2006. Come along, join in the fun and raise funds for Leukaemia Research. Top individual and team fundraisers will be presented with trophies at an awards presentation evening.

More information at www.southendbikeathon.co.uk

Podcast for Southend?

Sarfend — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:00:00 +0000

The team behind Sarfend.co.uk are considering creating a Southend podcast. Comments?

Identity Theft

Sarfend — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 12:00:00 +0000

According to a report from one of the UK credit monitoring agencies, Southend-on-Sea is the South’s number one hot spot for ID theft. Be on your guard.
Some basic tips to protect your identity can be found here