Welcome to Blenheim Park Ward

See below for latest Blenheim Park Focus

Blenheim Social Events - All welcome

Blenheim Social calender is listed elsewhere under the "Social Events" button im the menu listed to the side.

Your local Liberal Democrat Councillors - see below for details

Jim Clinkscales - 01702 349940 cllrclinkscales@southend.gov.uk

Cllr Graham Longley - 01702 520234 - graham_longley@hotmail.com

Duncan Russell 01702 474717 - cllrrussell@southend.gov.uk

LibDem Surgery

The LibDem Surgery is open on the last Saturday of every month between 10am to 12 noon. It is held at the West Area Housing office in Mendip Crescent. You are welcome to come and speak to your councillor face to face for any of your problems.

Your Councillors - Jim Clinkscales

Jim is Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and is Blenheims' Planning specialist sitting on the Development Control Committee.

Jim also sits on the following committes and working parties of the Council Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee; Licensing Sub-Committee C; Appeals Committee A; Development Control Committee; Working Parties: T-Government & ICT Strategy Working Party; Cultural Advisory Working Party; Pier and Foreshore Working Party; Outside Bodies: East of England Tourist Board, Regional Tourism Council; Southend-on-Sea Arts Council; Southend-on-Sea Sports Council.

Graham Longley

Graham is the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Southend Council and current Parliamentary spokesman for the Rochford & Southend East constituency.

Graham also sits on: Children & Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee; The Appointments and Disciplinary Committee; Economic & Environmental Scrutiny; Committee Forums: Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum; London Southend Airport & Environs JAAP Forum; Panels: The Performance Related Pay Panel Working Parties;

Grants Strategy Working Party; The Honours and Holocaust Memorial Day Working Party; Outside Bodies: Regional Cities East; Local Government Association General Assembly; Employment & Skills panel of the East of England Regional Assembly.

Duncan Russell

Duncan picks up the reigns and is slowly beginning to find his way around the bureaucratic system that is Southend council. He is available to help at anytime and has taken on the Children & Lifelong learning scrutiny committee as his first challenge.

Duncan joins the Blenheim LibDem team replacing Brian Smith who was this years mayor and had been a Blenheim LibDem Councillor for nearly 15 yrs. Brian is moving near to Ipswich to be close to his daughter and his five grandchildren.

Don't be afraid to contact Duncan for help

Issues in Blenheim Park & Belfairs Wards

Useful links in our Ward

www.blenheimprimary.co.uk

www.mendipra.co.uk

Latest Blenheim Focus

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April/May Focus, front page

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Focus News.

CHRISTMAS CHEER AS BUS SERVICE SAVED

Partnership with local authority brings gift for residents

RELIEVED residents of Southend have been handed a Christmas present by bus operator First and Southend Borough Council.

Christmas has come early for passengers, as calls to save a vital bus service were heeded by First Essex, who agreed a compromise with the council.

Bus service 21 that is run in partnership with the local authority was due to be re-routed along Blenheim Chase, after traffic calming measures and inconsiderate parking made the route almost impossible for buses to navigate.

Liberal Democrat Councillors Graham Longley and Jim Clinkscales met with managing director for First Essex, Bob Dorr, to see for themselves the problem the speed tables were giving buses.

It was understood that subject to a minor change in height to one side of one table that it would be possible for the 21 service to stay where it was.

Managing Director of First Essex, Bob Dorr, said: "We heard about the concerns raised by local residents, particularly those in sheltered housing, and have agreed with Southend Borough Council that the route can stay as it is.

"Changes are now going to be made to accommodate the service which is good news for passengers.

"We would like to warmly thank Graham Longley of Blenheim Ward, without whose help this route could not have been saved."

Councillor Longley offered his thanks to Cllr Anna Waite, portfolio holder for Highways, and Bob Dorr for working together. Mr Longley said he was delighted the council had been able to save the service.

"I very much feel that if Bob Dorr and myself had not spoken, this service would have been re-routed. I'm sure it's a great relief for passengers to be receiving some Christmas cheer, knowing their service will not be lost.

"We are very pleased that with everyone working together an acceptable solution was found for local residents."

Mr Longley added

Tesco's coming to Blenheim? - up date on Planning Committee decision

Christian Science Church Building to be demolished?

Residents were delighted to hear the Planning Committee, on officers recommendations, turn down the planning application that might have brought a Tesco store to London Road on the site of the old Christian Scientist building.

They were even more pleased to hear that the front "shop" part of the building was to be locally listed as an important land mark building.

At the committee Cllr Graham Longley, speaking against the proposals , made clear that a development of the sort plannd was unacceptable and out of character with the area. He thanked officers for their comprehensive list of refusal conditions and asked that the site be referred to the conservation working party to see if the area could become a conservation area.

This was accepted and the proposed planning request were unaminously thrown out.