MP Jackie Doyle-Price to join police in tackling Lakeside boy racers

              

MP Jackie Doyle-Price will join forces with Essex Police and Essex Fire to try to crack down on boy racers at Lakeside at the end of the month.
Operation Wagtail will hit Lakeside on Saturday January 31 to tackle the issue of 'cruising'.

 

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price will tag along on a ride-a-long with the Neighbourhood Policing Team to see how the issue is being addressed.
Chief Inspector Leigh Norris, District Commander for Thurrock, said: "Street racing poses not only a danger to other road users but also the surrounding road networks and to those using the footpaths and local leisure facilities."
"There have been complaints from local residents about the noise pollution and local businesses within the Lakeside area have been forced to close early to prevent incidents of crime and disorder."
Police authorised a 24-hour dispersal order on December 27 in a bid to reduce vehicle based anti-social behaviour and street racing in vehicles.
Chief Inspector Norris added: “I have been working extensively with local businesses, partner agencies and the community to address these issues."

Ms Doyle-Price added: “The issue of car cruising in the Lakeside area has been causing nuisance to local residents for a number of years.  I want to see at first hand how Essex Police are dealing with the problem and see what else can be done to tackle this menace once and for all. 
"It may be that it requires physical changes to the road network, but the public should be assured that the Police are determined to fix the problem.”

New Secondary School in Chafford

THURROCK is to get a new secondary school after an education trust’s free school bid was given the green light by the Government.
The new state secondary school, which will be built in Chafford Hundred and run by the Harris Federation - who already maintain the "outstanding" Harris Academy Chafford Hundred - will cater for around 1,150 pupils aged 11 to 18.
The new school project was one of just 38 to be given the backing of the Department for Education on Thursday and Prime Minister David Cameron, commenting specifically on the new school for Thurrock, called the Federation’s plans “commendable”.

He said: “I’m delighted that Harris Chafford Hundred Free School will be opening in Thurrock. Free schools, many of which are set up by parents and teachers, are around twice as likely to be rated outstanding by Ofsted as other schools.

“The plans this school has to support pupils by partnering with the nearby ‘outstanding’ Harris Academy Chafford to drive up standards, are truly commendable.
“As part of the Harris chain, the new free school will share curriculum teaching, pastoral care and administrative services with other highly successful schools.”
The Harris Academy Chafford Hundred is currenly one of the top performing secondary schools in the country, receiving three applications for every place.
The new school, which will be state funded but free from local authority control, will create 180 Year 7 places.
A steering group had been set up to gather support and develop plans for the school.
Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price was delighted on hearing the news and said the new school would give parents in West Thurrock and Chafford Hundred more choice.
She told the Gazette: “This will see the creation of more good quality school places in the west of the borough where they are much needed and shows that this Government is committed to providing the schools that parents want for their children.

The Harris Academy Chafford Hundred
“Parents shouldn’t be forced to accept a school place for their child which is not what they would choose for them. Sadly this is too often the case in Thurrock, especially in Chafford where the existing academy is oversubscribed.”
A primary free school opened at the Harris Academy Chafford Hundred in September, providing 60 additional primary school places.
Harris Chafford Hundred Free School will be Thurrock's eleventh secondary school.
 (from Thurrock Gazette)

New Park in Chafford

Drake Hall Gets Licence

THE future of Chafford Hundred community hall is no longer under threat after a public events licence was approved by councillors last night (Wed 18 May 2011).

After two hours of heated debate the cross-party committee made up of Labour's Wendy Herd Curtis and Mike Stone and Tory Steve Veryard gave the thumbs up on the licence with restrictions.

They include keeping the side doors of the Drake Road hall closed and a noise reduction system being installed so neighbours are not disturbed.

Everyone agreed that the hall does a good job with kids clubs and over 50s clubs using it during the week, but problems arose when the hall was hired out privately at weekends.

Committee chairman cllr Stone said: "The hall is run by the community for the community and it is good to see that community spirit is still alive in Thurrock."