Latest news with #Essex
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Chelmsford PCSO has no plans to retire aged 79
A man who is about to enter his 50th year working for a police force has said he has no plans to Barley was issued with a cape and had to cycle 16 miles to work when he first joined Essex Police in force believes Mr Barley, who is now a police community support officer, is the oldest PCSO in 79-year-old works as part of the Chelmsford neighbourhood policing team and says one of his favourite parts of the job is chatting to the public. "I'm on the town all the time and you get to know people – you're even on first name terms with the bad guys and that's very useful," he said."Regardless of what you might read, there are more good than bad people out there. "People love to see the police, they chat away and they thank you for what you're doing." Things have changed considerably since Mr Barley saw a newspaper advert for the Metropolitan Police 50 years featured an officer pulling off a high-speed skid in a patrol car."At that time, I was living in Stifford [in Thurrock, Essex] and I was posted to Basildon but I didn't have a clue where that was. I had to look it up on a map!"I then had to borrow a push bike and cycle the 16 miles down the old A13, getting up at 03:45 for the early shift."Mr Barley said his early days on the beat were "brilliant"."We'd walk the town centre checking doors – these are Dixon of Dock Green stories – and it was freezing cold sometimes but that's what the job was."I've still got the cape I was issued." Essex Police said Mr Barley - who worked as an officer for 30 years before becoming a PCSO - plans to carry on for as long as Barley said the use of drugs had become more widespread, but that his interactions with the public had not changed."I like to talk, and your mouth is still your best bit of equipment."Times change, but you still have to solve problems and appease people. It's about knowing your audience." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Chelmsford council disappointed by closures of two night clubs
A city council said it was disappointed after the quickfire announcements that two night-time venues would bar Walkabout, which opened in Chelmsford in 2016, and nearby nightclub Popworld which opened in 2018, will shut this venues in the city's Backnang Square are owned by Stonegate Group, which thanked customers "for their loyalty and support over the years"."It is very disappointing to hear that two established, hard-working and popular venues will soon be closing," said a Chelmsford City Council spokesperson. "Both businesses will be missed by many residents and visitors, and their colleagues in Chelmsford's night-time economy. " The two closures were announced in the space of two days."I think it will be a really big hole in the city's night-time economy," said Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford."Bars and restaurants, they come and go, but this has been a feature of the centre of Chelmsford for quite some time now and it seems to have really come out of the blue as well."Goldman said there were still plenty of bars, restaurants and independent venues in the area, and suggested that businesses struggling to turn over a profit was countrywide problem.A Stonegate Group spokesperson said Walkabout would shut on 13 July and Popworld on 2 August."We'd like to thank all our guests for their loyalty and support over the years - it's been a pleasure to welcome you through our doors," they said. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
£1.6m home where buyers can customise the interior hits the market in south Essex
A five-bedroom detached house in south Essex has hit the market with the option for buyers to personalise the interior before completion. Listed at £1,600,000, the newly built property on Westley Road, Langdon Hills, is described as an "exceptional new build" and is currently under construction, with completion expected in early autumn. According to the listing by Binks and Brown, buyers can choose their own fixtures, finishes, and design touches, or opt for the developers to complete the home to the same standard as the neighbouring house. Arranged across four floors, the home includes an open-plan kitchen and living area that extends across the rear of the property. The proposed open-plan kitchen space (Image: Binks and Brown / Zoopla) The listing states this space is "perfect for entertaining". The basement level provides a dedicated cinema room, while the upper floors boast the bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom or shower room. The listing describes the bedrooms as "spacious" and arranged across the upper floors. Located in the Langdon Hills area, the property is positioned in a semi-rural setting with access to local amenities and transport links. The proposed cinema room (Image: Binks and Brown / Zoopla) Langdon Hills Country Park, which covers over 400 acres, is within walking distance, and the listing highlights views of the Thames Estuary from the park. Laindon Railway Station is nearby, providing connections into London. At the front, the house features a driveway with space for off-street parking. One of the proposed bedrooms (Image: Binks and Brown / Zoopla) A rear garden is described as "beautifully designed" and is intended to extend the kitchen and living area outdoors. The listing says the property offers a "turn-key opportunity" for buyers seeking a new home without the need to manage planning or construction. According to the listing, the developers are known for "meticulous attention to detail". One of the proposed bathrooms (Image: Binks and Brown / Zoopla) A spokesman for Binks and Brown wrote: "Finding the perfect plot, navigating planning approvals, and selecting builders all the hard work has been done for you. "This is a rare "turn-key" opportunity to acquire a brand-new home in a thriving location, with the freedom to make it your own. "Don't miss the chance to create your dream home in this prime Langdon Hills setting. Contact us today to arrange a viewing."
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rod Stewart urges voters to 'give Nigel Farage a chance' as he reveals what he really thinks about Keir Starmer
Rod Stewart has urged voters to give Nigel Farage a chance as he criticised both Sir Keir Starmer and the Conservatives. The singer, who is well known for hits such as Baby Jane and Maggie May, said he thinks the Reform UK leader is coming across well. Meanwhile, Sir Rod, 80, was critical of the Prime Minister's decision to cut off fishing in Scotland and give it back to the EU, saying this move has not made him popular. He also thinks the nation is fed up of the Tories. The rock legend told The Times: 'We've got to give Farage a chance. He's coming across well. Nigel? 'What options have we got? I know some of his family, I know his brother, and I quite like him.' Sir Rod, who is due to sing at Glastonbury on Sunday, explained that he doesn't think he is out of touch with ordinary people, even though he his 'extremely wealthy'. His comments on the UK's political landscape come after he previously spoke about about a problem with potholes around his £4.6million Essex mansion. In 2022, he delighted fans as he donned a high-vis jacket to fill in the craters outside his home. Sir Rod had said he was driven to take action 'as no-one can be bothered to do it'. The issue, however, continued to persist even after the local council said it would re-lay the road to fix the issues with the surface. And last November, he announced he was considering selling his Italian supercar collection over the pothole issue. Sir Rod wrote in a post on Instagram: 'I am extremely fortunate and eternally grateful to be the owner of these five beautiful hybrid sports cars, which, in my opinion, are true "works of art". 'Unfortunately, because of the potholes on our roads, I may have to find new owners for them. 'I've been driving these iconic Italian cars since the seventies, and I absolutely love and adore them.' Sir Rod was also quick to nip any criticism of his broadside in the bud. He added: 'This post is for my fans—thank you, as you are the sole reason I own them. And to all the trolls… don't bother; I never read the comments.' Sir Rod is due to perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset on Sunday. The legend who has not sung at the event since 2002, confirmed that his Faces co-star and Rolling Stones guitarist, Ronnie Wood, will be making an appearance.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Migrant hotel kingpins who pocketed millions paid for by YOU ‘flee UK after their £2billion' contract was axed
TWO migrant hotels kingpins have disappeared after their £2billion contract was axed. Kebab shop owner Safwan Adam, 38, and sushi shop boss Bassam Gilini, 38, made tens of millions from the Home Office through their firm Stay Belvedere Hotels Limited (SBHL). It was announced in March that the firm — which operates 51 sites — was being removed as a government contractor when its deal ends in September next year. The pair had already taken at least £47.4million in dividends from the business between April 2021 and September 2022 — in the only public accounts currently available. It is believed they may have now left the UK. Neighbours at Mr Gilini's £2million home in Chigwell, Essex, said they had not seen him around for 'some time'. Meanwhile a relative of Mr Adam in Wanstead, East London, said he was 'not in the country'. But a source close to the company last night insisted the directors had not moved from the UK and continue to work from the country. The Home Office has refused The Sun's Freedom of Information Act request to explain why the deal was scrapped. Border security and asylum minister Angela Eagle had told a select committee earlier this month that there had been 'non-performance-related issues' with SBHL. The TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'The Home Office's refusal to be transparent, even after a parliamentary committee raised serious concerns is unacceptable.' Neither director has replied to requests for comment.
