Around town magazine rayleigh edition may 2015

May 2015 Edition 18 Delivered to 15,000 Homes & Businesses in Rayleigh aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

MON-SUN

BILLERICAY’S MICROPUB SOON TO BE OPEN IN EVENINGS. There will soon be a new place to drink real ales in the evening Billericay. Billericay Brewing will now be opening their micropub until 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 15th May. The micropub is situated next to their microbrewery at 52 Chapel Street (just behind the Waitrose Car Park and opposite Mayflower Hall) Micropubs are a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular. They are basically a very small pub and a place where people can meet to enjoy quality real ale and good conversation. The first micropub opened in Kent in 2005 and there are now over 100 nationwide.

Billericay

2

Brewing’s

micropub

will sell their own real ales direct from the cask, guest beers from other local breweries and a wide range of bottled craft beers. The micropub also includes a retail area so you can take home bottles of Billericay Brewing beers and other local, national and international beers plus take home containers of their draught ales. In addition there is an outside drinking area to enjoy the beers in the coming summer weather. Billericay Brewing has been brewing on their own microbrewery since January 2014 and now have a range of 7 permanent beers such as Billericay Blonde, Billericay Dickie and Mayflower Gold and produce regular seasonal ales such as their

latest Norsey Gold. Brewery tours, tasting evenings and brewer for the day experiences are also available. With a number of other excellent pubs in the town and neighbouring villages, Billericay is rapidly becoming a destination to visit for real ale and craft beer lovers.

For further details see the website www.billericaybrewing.co.uk Opening times: Tuesday & Wednesday 10am-5pm. Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 12-4pm.

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

ACCESS AWNINGS SPRING AWNING SALE 25% OFF ALL MARKILUX AWNINGS

ALSO CHOOSE FROM A RANGE OF OPTIONS AT 35% DISCOUNT. FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

GARAGE DOOR WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE EX DEMO MODELS UP TO 75% OFF RRP GARAGE DOORS SUPPLIED & FITTED FROM £395 INC VAT*

Unit 1, Upminster Trading Park, Warley Street, Upminster, RM14 3PJ CALL NOW 01708 227042 or Email upminster@accessgaragedoors.com OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.accessgaragedoors.com *Price for a 7'0''x6'6'' Horizontal White Steel Door with Canopy Gear to an existing timber frame

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

3

... Around Towners to YOUR Rayleigh community magazine!

The month of May is one of our favourites at AT HQ! The beginning of summer beer festivals, TWO Bank Holiday weekends and sunshine, warmth and a general good feeling all round! Let’s hope the weather plays fair, so we can all enjoy some time ‘around town’ this month.

Following last months ‘Election Special’ edition, we have approached your prospective MP’s once again and offered them a final chance before voting day (on Thursday 7th May) to explain why your vote for them would count. Have your say and make it count – after all, one of them WILL be representing our community very soon.

We would also like to mention the start of our third magazine – Around Town Upminster – which successfully launched last month.

If you’d like more details on the titles available from the Around Town series, then please contact us on the number below.

With all the regular reports, local businesses, events and more inside, we hope you enjoy this edition of Around Town Magazine.

Until next time...

From the Around Town Team

Features 7 Rayleigh Lions Club / Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill Organisations ‘Around Town’

5

8 Nature Notes EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner

ay

h

11 Know Your Tradesmen Mark Winn Builders 14 - 19 Election Edition General Election - 7th May 21 Martin Lewis The Money Saving Expert 24 A View from the Church Rev. Mike Lodge 28 Around Town Sports Focuses on Boxing 30 On Your Plot Gardening Tips 31 Useful Numbers

1 20

M

7t

Why Advertise?

We hand deliver 15,000 copies every month to homes and businesses covering the whole of Rayleigh. This includes several thousand copies available from venues throughout the town and an online edition.

To Advertise Contact our details below.

Sales

Team

Booking deadline for our June edition of Around Town is: Friday 15th May.

Copyright 2015. Around Town Rayleigh is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in Around Town do not necessarily represent those of the editors of Around Town Magazines. Around Town Magazines are published by Black Square Print Media Ltd produced by Black Square Litho Ltd.

Around Town Magazines Graphic House, Radford Way, Billericay CM12 0DE

01277 658444 www.aroundtownmagazines.co.uk admin@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

5

Brooks

Care and Nursing Services Limited

- Are you looking for high quality, individualised, flexible and compassionate care in your own home?

- Providing assistance with all personal care needs.

- Respite, shopping and light house chores.

- Our company is owned and managed by registered nurses.

- Free Assessment upon request.

Please contact us on 01702 526797

www.brooks-care.co.uk

Ian’s curtains & blinds

Curtains | Tracks and Poles | Roman Blinds | Roller Blinds | Vertical Blinds Venetian Blinds | Wooden Blinds Pattern books also available.

FREE QUOTE - Call today on Wickford: 01268 410516 | Mobile: 07743562384 ian.dipple@yahoo.com | www.ianscurtainsandblinds.co.uk

6

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

ROTARY CLUB OF RAYLEIGH MILL At the beginning of March we had our Founders Night meeting when clubs join together to celebrate the founding of Rotary in 1905. This year the meeting was hosted by Rochford Rotary Club at their meeting venue, Rochford Golf Club. Rochford and Rayleigh members were joined by others from Leigh, Westcliff, Hadleigh and Southend clubs. Along with an excellent meal we were also pleased to be entertained with a dance presentation from The Mushroom Theatre group. This group, which is part of the ‘Equal People’ charity, encourages young people, both able bodied and disabled, in performing arts. The group has recently moved to new premises on the Brook Road Industrial Estate, Rayleigh partly funded by the Rayleigh and Rochford Rotary Clubs. Club members have now started planning our annual Charity Golf event at Rochford Golf Club which will take place on Monday 6th July. We have held this for a number of years with teams from many local companies and organisations competing for the prizes. If you managed a hole in one you would even drive away with a new car! If you would like to have details of the event either to participate or sponsor, please use the contact details below.

If you wish to visit us or know more about the Club please contact Andrew Shackleton on 01702 201783 or robertashackleton@googlemail.com. Our website and Facebook page can also help you see what we do. www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubsID=1797 or put ‘Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill’ into Facebook. Our meeting takes place at Mama Romantica Restaurant in Rayleigh High Street at 7.30pm every Monday night.

RAYLEIGH LIONS CLUB The Lions Club of Rayleigh is part of the International Association of Lions Clubs, and our primary aim is to raise and distribute funds within out local area.

The Lions Club Of Rayleigh was chartered in 1974 and serves the Rayleigh, Hockley, Hullbridge and Rochford areas. Our club is a Voluntary Service Organisation and a registered charity, we are always looking for people willing to help make their community a better place to live.

By visiting our website, you will be able to find out about the work of the international organisation of Lions and the Lions Club of Rayleigh in particular, including our activities and also details of forthcoming events, and who to contact for further information.

Our club meets on the 1st (business) & 3rd (social) Tuesdays in every month in Rayleigh.

Guests are always welcome. http://www.rayleighlions.org.uk PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

7

As a company we offer real value to our bathroom customers. We love nothing more than to bring an old tired bathroom back to life, by installing high end to budget products that simply transform your room.

www.essex-bathrooms.co.uk

07712 674877 | 01702 232979

DOWN HALL G A R D E N S E RV I C E S

For all local garden maintenance - friendly & professional.

Tim Poulter

01268 785101 07761 958072

Having trouble voting?

Action38, the independent campaigning organisation, have a quiz to help you choose which party’s politics are most relevant to you. I took the quiz but got stumped very early on. First question: “place the following topics in order of importance”, these included economy, environment, health and education. Of course we all want a strong economy and many people would put this top of the list because the other topics are dependant on it.

But the dependency is both ways. If people aren’t healthy and well educated they are not going to be employable and productive. And what about the environment?

I’ve written before about the economic benefits the environment can bring and Tony Juniper’s recent book “What Nature does for Britain”* emphasises this even more, giving real examples of how, if used correctly, it could save us billions. The environment naturally provides us with clean oxygenated air and water. Plants do this, as does the soil they grow in: 10 billion tonnes of carbon is stored in soils in the UK, more than in all the forests of Europe. Soil purifies and stores water and regulates water flow. Mr Juniper informs us that the wettest soils, in bogs, marshes and fens, provide around £350m worth of flood defences every year and this could be even better if we diverted more of the taxpayers’ contributions to farming into managing the land to regulate the water flow. $1trillion of sales annually worldwide depend on pollinating insects. And yet some useful insects are under threat from pesticides. We have many natural antidotes to pests. We should think outside the box, specifically the nest box. At an orchard in Holland nest boxes for Great Tits gave a great apple harvest, as the tits moved in and hoovered up the caterpillars. The Great Tit song is described as ‘”teacher, teacher” – and we should listen and learn.

And there is wildlife tourism. In Scotland this is worth around £276million per year, providing thousands of jobs. White Tailed Eagles on Mull have brought real benefits to the local community. And there is health - a report by Natural England concluded that £2.1 billion could be saved in avoided health care costs if every household had access to open and green spaces.

And there is wildlife for its own sake. Like art, music, architecture, vintage cars etc, which we are all interested in to varying degrees, it enhances the quality of life, and is a heritage worth conserving. In May, do we want to walk in a silent countryside, with no butterflies and flowers? No, that would be like visiting an art gallery with no pictures, its a “blandscape” not a Living Landscape.

Professor Sir John Lawton in the paper ‘Making Space for Nature’ said “our natural world is not a luxury, it is essential to our health, well-being and economy”. The RSPB’s “Vote for Bob” campaign (www.voteforbob.co.uk) advocates that whichever party(s) are in government, they should put nature higher up the agenda., *“What Nature Does for Britain” is ISBN: 9781781253281

Neilsumner123@aol.com follow me twitter.com/neilsumner123

poplarvista@btinternet.com 8

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

HANDYMAN DAVE SOUTHEND FLYING CLUB www.southendflyingclub.co.uk

The ideal Father’s Day gift

TRIAL FLYING LESSON £125

from inc VAT and includes Log Book & Certificate

Take to the Skies!

01702 545 198

For all your general property maintenance, call Dave! » » » » »

Tiling Plastering Refurbishments Kitchens Bathrooms

CALL FOR

FREE ESTIMATES

NO JOB TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG Call Dave on

07885750744 or 07874225752 deb1956@hotmail.co.uk

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

9

10

EssexMaintenanceApr14 07 April 2014 15:38:43

10

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

Mark Winn has been running Mark Winn Builders for around eight years, offering house extensions and loft conversions in the South Essex area.

Mark Winn builders offers a full design and build service for anything from a full house extension to a complete

kitchen or bathroom renovation. Mark prides himself on the friendly, personalised service his company offers.

‘We’re friendly and really try to get to know our customers. We make sure when we’re carrying out the work they can carry on their daily lives pretty much as normal, without any major disruption’.

To feature your business contact:

Mark Winn builders operate mainly in Billericay, Brentwood, Wickford and Rayleigh, and Mark has built his business predominantly on recommendations from satisfied customers, so much so he gets little time to relax. ‘I’m pretty much working 24/7. When I’m not onsite I’m doing paperwork, but any spare time I do get I like to spend with my family.’

01277 658444 sales@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING WORK UNDERTAKEN

REPAIR SPECIALIST

Glass & Glazing Services Single & Double Glazing Repair Specialist

EXTENSIONS & CONSERVATORIES GARAGE & LOFT CONVERSIONS KITCHENS & BATHROOMS DESIGNED & INSTALLED BRICKWORK & PAVING

01268 - 733225 07979 - 845835 Like us on Facebook LKE Glass & Glazing Services PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

11

ELECTRICIAN With 34 years experience, we can help with any electrical issues! » » » » » »

Fault Finding Extra Sockets Lighting Showers Fuse Boxes Garden Lighting

CALL FOR

FREE ESTIMATES

EMERGENCY CALL OUTS NO JOB TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG WE DONT CHARGE THE EARTH

Call Dave on

07885750744 or 07874225752 deb1956@hotmail.co.uk

MARSHALL

Driveways & Patios Ltd FREEPHONE: 0800 292 7610 MOBILE: 07768 355 072

www.marshalldriveways.co.uk

Block Paving Patio Slabs Tarmacadam Graveling Natural Stone Drainage Fencing Landscaping Brickwork Pressure Cleaning

TrustATrader Finance loans, powered

by RateSetter, are fast and flexible.

Get a no-obligation quote today.

10%

NT DISCOOURKING WHILE W REA A IN YOUR

12

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

Take advantange of our special Spring Sale with 10% off * Pop in to one of our showrooms and see how our windows and doors stand out from the crowd.

Our friendly staff would be pleased to listen to your requirements, offer advice and provide ideas of cost.

Woodbridge Notcutts Garden Centre, Ipswich Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4AF. 01394 386666 Bury St Edmunds 8 Fornham Business Court, Hall Farm, Bury Drift Fornham St Martin, Suffolk IP31 1SL. 01284 760222 Ingatestone The Old Forge, 53 High Street, Ingatestone Essex CM4 0AT. 01277 350950 www.burgess-group.com *Not to be used in conjunction with any previous offer. Discount applied to orders placed before 31st May 2015.

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

13

“PLEASE DON’T HAND BACK THE CAR KEYS TO THE PEOPLE WHO CRASHED THE CAR!” Dear Rayleigh Residents, To begin with my background, I was born in Islington in 1965 and moved to Basildon with my parents in 1971, where I grew up before going off to read History and then War Studies at University.

I served my country in uniform as a TA infantry officer during the Cold War (including in the local Royal Anglian Regiment) and also served in Local Government before first being elected to Parliament as the MP for Rayleigh (now the Rayleigh and Wickford constituency) in 2001. I have lived in South Essex for over forty years, the last fifteen of them in Rayleigh itself.

Nationally, our country has been through a difficult time economically but we are now recovering, with solid economic growth, falling unemployment, low mortgage rates and very low inflation. Having made all of these difficult decision and sacrifices I strongly believe we should now see this through and not “hand back the car keys to the people that

14

crashed the car” by turning to a highly risky Labour led Government and one potentially propped up

by Alex Salmond and the Scottish Nationalists.

Locally, over the past 14 years, I have tried to be an active local MP, holding over 300 constituency advice surgeries to date and I pledge to continue with two regular advice surgeries a month if I am re-elected. I have sought to pursue issues across the constituency, from backing the regeneration of Wickford Town Centre through to supporting the exciting new RSPB Wildlife site at Wallasea Island.

In Rayleigh specifically, I have opposed plans to seek to build 500 houses unless the related infrastructure we would need is guaranteed first - which currently it is not. I have also helped win funding for the refurbishment of Rayleigh Windmill several years ago and, more recently, supported the Rayleigh

Town Museum project in their successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for monies to establish a Town Museum, which should now open in autumn 2015.

Several years ago I worked with the then Primary Care Trust (PCT) to help secure the expansion of Audley Mills Surgery and I have also supported the successful bids by both Sweyne Park and FitzWimarc schools to become Academies and their efforts to create two new Sixth Forms in the town as well.

I believe that we need a Conservative Government to help secure the economic recovery, which is now underway and I hope you will agree.

However, even if you are not terribly “political” and just want an MP who lives locally, works hard, is available to you if you need him and tries to help his constituents then I hope you might support me on May the 7th.

Yours faithfully,

MARK FRANCOIS

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rayleigh & Wickford

GENERAL ELECTION THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2015

I grew up in the area, I went to The Deanes School, and have witnessed the many changes to Rayleigh and Wickford over the years. It seems to me from meeting people living and working here that the town is dominated by Tory land owners thirsty to sell off their land to developers and an MP who strongly backed a bill to sell off the nation’s forests. The Green Party would be the only party who could block this level of sell off of green spaces in our area, keeping your countryside protected for you and future generations to come.

Our manifesto lays out plans to empower local authorities, allowing transparency within town planning and grant us the chance to decide the future of our towns and villages. Rochford District Councils Green Councillors Michael and Dianne Hoy, worked hard blocking all badly designed developments in the Rayleigh area on the grounds of poor infrastructure. As a Green MP who truly cares about

the environment and the people living within it, I would support that voice.

I am keen to raise the issue of the roads and pollution levels. We cannot increase road building when already we have seen so much of our green spaces carved up by major roads.

The answer is to make affordable and easy to use public transport and to promote cycling. The Green Party support the re-nationalisation of the railways, and the reduction of bus fares.

Introduction of safe cycle lanes would further ease the pressure on our roads, creating a healthier way of living within our towns. We want to stop subsidising big out of town shopping centres and supermarkets and cap rents on local shops. We can create more local jobs, bringing life back into village and town centres, and help all small local businesses compete with the out of town supermarkets, thereby reducing car use.

order to fund renewable energy construction is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Backed by calls from the World Bank, reversing Climate Change is at the centre of the Green manifesto. As other candidates either pay lip service to Climate change by offering minor targets, or are in total denial of it, Greens press this point to the hilt. Greens would press for a cleaner economy with bigger subsidies for home insulation, a national infrastructure of charge points for electric cars and support for local solar and wind power. This would reduce the legacy of environmental damage that the fossil fuel industry is forcing upon the next generation.

Your health is so important to us, as well as measures to help you remain healthy,We will repeal the Health and Social Care Act, and properly fund the NHS to keep it free at the point of delivery. www.greenparty.org.uk/ we-stand-for/ 2015-manifesto

Our need to halt subsidies to fossil fuel companies in

Sarah Yapp

Green Party Candidate for Rayleigh & Wickford

GENERAL ELECTION THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2015

15

schools. Firstly the number of unqualified teachers now stands at over 17,000, a 16% increase in the last year. This means that some 400,000 children are being taught by teachers who don’t have the requisite training.

In my last article I set out some of the Labour Party’s policies on the NHS, energy bills, taxes and the minimum wage, zerohours contracts, and what we intend to do to help small and medium-sized enterprises.

So I won’t repeat them here, except to remind you of one. In September 2013 the Labour Party announced that 25 hours of free childcare a week would be provided for 3-4 year olds, paid for with an increase in the bank levy. This was linked with wraparound facilities at primary, infant and junior schools from 8am-6pm, and doubling the number of Sure Start places.

I’d like to talk about education in schools today, it being a subject important to me as a teacher. As I write the Echo is highlighting the fact that more than 500 families have missed out on places in all the schools they had listed, meaning their children will be placed in the nearest available school.

There aren’t enough schools, in the right places to cope with demand, as the government’s flagship Free Schools programme has tended to build them were there are already excess places costing at least £241 million in these areas alone. It’s not as if they’ve improved attainment either, with a third rated ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’

by Ofsted when around a fifth of state schools have the same ratings, which is still too many. There have also been a number of Free Schools that either did not open due to lack of interest, or have been closed for failing their pupils.

These teachers will not be asked to leave if Labour are elected, they are there for the right reasons they wish to give children the best possible start in life. So they would be given the opportunity to attain the proper qualifications, enabling them to access career development programmes and improve their skills and knowledge.

The second issue is that 50,000 teachers quit in the last year alone, and it’s estimated that 160,000 new teachers will be needed over the next three years.

Labour would protect the education budget of £58 billion, ensuring it rises with inflation. This on its own will not resolve the problem, we will also bring in measures to ease workload, a principal reason for teachers leaving.

We will not just tear up the new curriculum, bringing yet more disruption, but schools and teachers will be given much greater freedom to adapt it to their needs.

There is a lot more I’d like to tell you, such as our new Local Directors of Standards to bring local accountability, but I’ve run out of space. Please read our education manifesto and see how we intend to improve our schools.

David Hough Labour Party Candidate for Rayleigh and Wickford

There are two big issues which are having a detrimental effect on education in

16

GENERAL ELECTION THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2015

My name is Mike Pitt and I am standing for the Liberal Democrats in Rayleigh and Wickford.

I am a teacher in a comprehensive school, having retrained after several years in the software industry.

£8bn higher per year in real terms by 2020.

The Liberal Democrats are the only political party to set out a credible road map for how we will safeguard the NHS over the next parliament.

As a teacher, and while a governor in a primary school, I have seen the benefits of the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium.

We have also pledged to protect school budgets from nursery to 19 years, despite the continuing budget pressures.

We can’t however do this without finishing the job of deficit reduction: not cutting services for the sake of it but ensuring a fair share of the load being met by a contribution from the richest in society through targeted tax changes. In particular we will continue progress made on tax avoidance and target £6 billion more by 2017/18.

Like most of us I am proud of the NHS, and acknowledge its pressures. Under Liberal Democrat spending plans Health Service funding will be at least

for the constituency.

Conservative hopes for a “Snoopers’ Charter” were stopped

by Liberal Democrats in government, as was Labour’s ID card scheme. We will look to introduce bill to tighten the regulation of technologies that invade our privacy, and we will protect free speech and public interest journalism.

Finally I want to provide a strong Liberal voice

Mike Pitt - Liberal Democrat Candidate for Rayleigh & Wickford

GENERAL ELECTION THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2015

17

I hope the residents of Rayleigh and Wickford take time to reflect on exactly what their problems are in this coming election. I would suggest local issues such as huge housing estates and traffic congestion are near the top of the list. I have led the campaign to halt the building of over 1400 houses in this area with no upgrade in roads or drainage. The Rochford District Council Conservative dominated council have chosen Rayleigh and Hullbridge to become the dumping ground for the majority of this building. Ten years of mayhem followed by further congestion with the added issues of lack of schools, doctors and hospitals. Those flooded recently were ignored by all agencies until, via the press, Rayleigh Action Group were instrumental in forcing their hand to act.

RDC have also decided we should be encumbered with a Traveller and Gypsy site on the entrance to our town, larger than the original infamous Dale Farm.

Against the clear wishes of his constituents this was supported by Mark Francois at the Government Inspectors

hearing in September 2013.

There is much more to read on this sorry state of affairs when 10,000 local residents objected and were ignored by those that were elected into office.

See www.

Rayleighactiongroup.org I have lived in Essex for virtually all my life and raised my family locally. I owned and managed an Import company for many years. I know of the cost and misery of long journeys to and from the City. I am standing as a totally Independent candidate in the General Election and would ask for your support in making history by overturning this ‘100%’ safe Tory seat where a blue rosette means automatic re-election for life when someone is anointed as a candidate by the Tory party machine. We have been let down by the current coterie of Councillors and the MP who leads them.

Please do not waste your vote on the UKIP bandwagon.

This is not a target seat for UKIP. Their candidate stood for the right wing English Democrat Party in previous elections. I seriously question the ‘dangerous

cult of personality’ that UKIP displays. In the knowledge that their chosen candidates are not true contenders in this constituency, I wish to appeal to all those that would usually automatically vote for Labour and Libdem candidates – please use ‘TACTICAL VOTING’ and vote Independent on this one occasion. Please loan me your vote and let us together bring back democracy to the people of our country and of this district.

I want a guaranteed free press and more attention placed on the things that matter most to the public.

Do not believe the many bribes being made by the major parties that seek your patronage during election periods. Like a magicians trick their promises will disappear in a puff of smoke on the 8th May when they have secured another 5 years of living on their personal ‘gravy train’.

Linda Kendall - Independent Candidate for Rayleigh and Wickford www.Lindakendall.com

18

GENERAL ELECTION THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2015

Readers this will be a momentous General Election. There is much at stake. The three main parties are virtually the same. They are in favour of uncontrolled mass immigration, the EU, vast Foreign Aid (currently £12 billion a year), concreting over the green belt and green fields of England, multi-culturalism, political correctness, and green taxes causing fuel poverty. Only UKIP provides alternatives. *Let us look at the main issues. First the Economy.

Under David Cameron the UK National Debt has increased from £811 billion in 2010 to £1.45 trillion now. An increase of 80% caused by Coalition Budget Annual Deficits.

UKIP by 2018/19 will bring the Annual Deficit to zero.

Cheap low skilled labour from Eastern Europe attracts a low wage. Their income is increased by payment of in work benefits, which can easily double their income. As a result the Government receives less tax, but is burdened by a higher welfare bill. This also leads to wage compression for the British people as well as unemployment. There are currently 743,000 16 to 24 year olds unemployed.

UKIP will leave the EU saving £20 billion a year, reduce Foreign Aid by £9 billion a year, scrap HS2 saving £70

billion, all green taxes and wind turbine subsidies.

UKIP would remove the need to pay income tax on full time minimum wage earnings (approximately £13,500

by May 2015), and abolish Inheritance Tax. *The National Health Service under UKIP will be free at the point of delivery. An extra £3 billion a year will be injected for frontline services (20,000 new nurses, 3,000 midwives and 8,000 GPs).

Visitors to the UK and migrants must have private health insurance as a condition of entry, saving the NHS £2 billion a year. UKIP will spend £200 million a year to end Hospital Parking charges in England.

UKIP will also ensure that foreign health service professionals are properly qualified, and can speak acceptable English. UKIP will oppose plans to charge to see a GP. *Net Immigration is currently 298,000 a year. A surprising factor is that the immigrants from outside the EU, which can be controlled, outnumbered those from inside the EU by a ratio of 2:1. Uncontrolled mass immigration since 2001 has placed an intolerable burden on our public services and infrastructure. UKIP would leave the EU, and take back control of our borders.

UKIP

would

introduce

Australian points based system for time limited work permits.

Those coming to work must have a job, speak English, have accommodation agreed prior to arrival, and NHS approved health insurance.

Migrants would only be eligible for benefits (in work or out of work) after paying tax and national insurance for 5 years. *On Housing and Planning UKIP will ensure that the people will have the final word on local housing and Traveller development by introducing binding local referenda on major development issues. *On Law and Order UKIP would free the police from excessive form filling, provide more real Police Officers on the beat, stop scrapping of frontline police jobs, and adopt a zero tolerance approach to crime and antisocial behaviour. *On street lights UKIP will switch them on during the hours of darkness.

an

John Hayter - UKIP Candidate for Rayleigh & Wickford GENERAL ELECTION THURSDAY 7TH MAY 2015

19

L. McCARTHY

ELECTRICAL Lighting / Sockets Cooker & Hob Installation Fuseboards & Re-wiring Inspection & Testing PAT Testing All Works Fully Insured

Aaron Paving

(Essex)

have been providing

well designed, attractive driveways for over 30 years. Our driveways and patios will add style and value to your home.

Office: 01277 228229 Mobile: 07816011065 Email: enquiries@aaronpaving.co.uk

All Aspects of Electrical Work Carried Out

07984 525567

19 Sylvia Avenue, Hutton, Brentwood Essex CM13 2HP www.aaronpaving.co.uk Company No. 8758287 VAT No. 176603496

24 HOUR CALL OUT

OUR ROOF RESTORE SYSTEMS ARE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR ANY FLAT OR LOW PITCH ROOF

NEW FOR THIS SUMMER!!

RUBBER ROOF AGGREGATE (patent pending)

SAVE

£££ ’S ON AIR CONDITIONING - KEEPS BUILDINGS COOL!!!

Call Bert on 07522 247989 for more details.

20

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

Don’t bitch about your bank, switch.

HSBC’s hit the headlines for moral failing, but that’s nothing Barclays, Lloyds and others haven’t done in the past. My ears regularly burn with people growling about their bank, yet last year only 1 in 50 people punished theirs by leaving.

Yet now is the perfect time to do it, many banks are salivating for new business, pushing out lucrative perks for switchers on fee free bank accounts. Here are the 10 need-to-knows...

1. Seven-day switching means it’s mostly no hassle. Seven-day switching is now over a year old. Within seven working days your new bank will switch your direct debits and standing orders for you and close your old account and make sure any payments to it are forwarded to your new one. I did a snap poll on my Facebook page of people who’d used it 82% found it “easy and hassle free”.

2. What counts as switching to get the perks? For most accounts, you usually need to not just open it, but switch. That usually means: a) You need to pass a credit check, though they’re not normally too harsh. b) Most require a ‘min monthly deposit’.

In reality it’s just how they ensure you pay your income in there. Eg, £500/mth = £6,000 salary. c) Many require you to have a couple of direct debits set up.

3. Get paid £125 to switch. Some banks want you to switch so much they will pay you to do so, and this bribe is tax-free.

A full list (and some short lived special deals) in www.mse.me/bankaccounts, but here’s a taster: - Free £125 + £5/mth: www.halifax.co.uk Reward pays you £5/mth if you’re in credit.

- Free £100 + top service: www.firstdirect. com has won every customer service poll I’ve ever done, plus it offers a £250 0% overdraft and 6% linked savings. You must pay in £1,000/mth (equiv £13,500 salary) to avoid a monthly fee.

- Free £100 + £25 to charity: www.cooperativebank.co.uk also gives £25 to one of seven charities.

- Free £100 M&S gift card: www.bank. marksandspencer.com it also has a £100 0% overdraft and linked 6% regular savings account.

4. Top for savings interest – get up to 5%.

Instead of cash bribes, other banks try to suck in customers by paying switchers loss-leading interest rates on savings (taxed like normal savings) to keep you with them.

- For bigger savers 3% interest + up to 3% cashback: www.santander.co.uk 123 is the only one which pays strong rates on a decent whack. You get 3% AER variable interest if you’ve £3,000 to £20,000 in it - more than double the best buy normal easy access savings account.

It has a £2/mth fee but for most that’s more than covered as it also pays cashback on direct debits paid from the account. You get 3% back on mobile, phone and broadband, 2% on energy and 1% on water, council tax and Santander mortgage payments. As Stefan tweeted: “Since the account opened 18 months ago £484.80, 2/3 cashback 1/3 interest. Happy.”

Yet for smaller amounts there are others out there paying up to 5% interest, and if you’re willing to play you can combine them to earn more. Full list and help doing that in www.mse.me/savingsloophole.

5. Which pays more - free cash or the bank savings interest? As a rough rule of thumb, if you’ve got £10,000+ then Santander always wins. Below that, we need to get a little nerdy... a) How often will you switch? You could switch annually (or more often) to keep bagging free £100s. To earn more in bank savings needs £3,000+. Yet if you just want one account to stick with, as savings pay each year it wins. b) Where’d you save it otherwise. The top savings accounts pay 1.4% AER so you can earn that without switching bank. So if bank savings is paying, for example, 3%, then the gain from choosing it as your bank is just 1.6%. c) Tax. The free cash for switching is tax-free, but interest is taxed like income tax, eg, at basic rate you lose 20% of it (higher rate 40%). So £100 free cash is £100, but £100 interest is £80 (£60 at higher rate).

6. How to cut overdraft charges to 0%.

An overdraft’s a debt like any other, so if you often go into the red, cutting its cost makes it easier to clear. www.firstdirect. com has a £250 0% overdraft and you can put the £100 it pays switchers towards it too. www.nationwide.co.uk FlexDirect may give a bigger 0% overdraft, credit score depending, but only for a year (it’s 50p/day after so try to clear by then).

If your overdraft is bigger, a few credit cards will pay them off for you at 0%.

Full info on that at www.mse.me/ moneytransfers.

7. Free travel insurance accounts. The www.nationwide.co.uk FlexAccount is feefree and includes Europe travel insurance for the account holder(s) and crucially this goes up to age 74 – useful as older people pay a hefty whack for travel insurance.

You can upgrade to world cover for £40.

8. Fed up with banks? Want something different? For a real change use a credit union. These are local savings and loan non-profit co-operatives. But while there are 500 credit unions, only around 25 offer current accounts to check if your nearest does go to www.abcul.org.

9. Changing bank doesn’t stop you reclaiming for mis-selling. You can still ditch, switch, then reclaim if you were mis-sold. For help reclaiming packaged accounts (those where you pay a monthly fee see www.mse.me/ packagedaccounts) and if you’re in financial hardship you may be able to get bank charges bank see www.mse.me/ bankcharges (avoiding bank charges in the first place is even better though).

As you can see there are a lot of variables, but in a nutshell, if you don’t want to regularly switch and have above say £4,000 then the high interest current account wins.

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

21

  GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING  GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING   Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced andrepaired

Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced andrepaired Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced andrepaired CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits andrepaired CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits andrepaired CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades Installations AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades Installations Installations NoCallOutCharge Installations NoCallOutCharge Installations NoCallOutCharge OAPdiscountsavailable NoCallOutCharge OAPdiscountsavailable NoCallOutCharge OAPdiscountsavailable Fullpublicliabilityinsurance OAPdiscountsavailable Fullpublicliabilityinsurance OAPdiscountsavailable Fullpublicliabilityinsurance  FullyQualifiedEngineers  Fullpublicliabilityinsurance  FullyQualifiedEngineers Fullpublicliabilityinsurance FullyQualifiedEngineers   FullyQualifiedEngineers   FullyQualifiedEngineers Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness 

Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall..

01702435400 01702435400 01702435400 01702 435400

22

Limited

• Bathrooms and Kitchens • Boilers installed and serviced • Blockages • All leaks and repairs • Renovation and Refurbishment • Ongoing building maintenance

Please call us for a FREE QUOTE

01702 203 186 We are a Hockley based family run business

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

At Cedar Tree Care we offer the following services: d d d d d d d d d d d d d d

Tree work Tree felling Thinning Hedge trimming Pruning garden clearance Dead wood lopping Seas Topping on H a rd W al Crown thinning oo L ogs Crown lifting Avai d l able Crown reduction Safety pruning Tree removal Stump removal Very competitive prices

£75 B

ul Bag k

Whatever your tree surgery needs talk to us today

01702 680393 | 07572 535206 www.cedar-treecare.co.uk

From a simple door swap to a full replacement kitchen!

• Free estimating, planning & design service • Fitted kitchens or replacement doors ore..! kitchen bef & worktops • Huge choice of doors, worktops, sinks, taps & appliances

find Call us to ! out more

Call Hayley for a FREE 411148 quote: 01322 01702 713533 Visit ourshowroom: showroom: Visit our 92 1741Nuxley London Road, Road, Belvedere, Kent DA17 Leaigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 5LD 2SW

Proud members of

www.dreamdoors.co.uk

Find us on

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

23

The General Election - why bother voting?

I am certain you will know the United Kingdom General Election of 2015 will be held on Thursday 7 May 2015, to elect the 56th Parliament of the United Kingdom. Already I have heard some say that it’s a waste of time voting! However, I firmly believe that it’s important to vote, because having the freedom to do so cannot be taken lightly. So, why should you vote?

voting we are showing that we think that right is important. We can think about it this way - in the UK, less than 100 years ago, people were killed during their struggles to get the vote for women. In South Africa, not until the end of apartheid in 1994 were black people able to vote for the first time. Today, many people across the world are still denied the right to vote!

Your vote gives you a say on who represents you in the UK Parliament, however distant that might seem with regard to the local issues that impact directly on us. Some people are quick to speak up or criticise when they disagree with what politicians say and the decisions they make, but this only emphasises the importance of voting for the candidates who we consider will be the best Member of Parliament to serve on our behalf. There are other reasons for voting.

Voting also gives us a say on important issues that affect us personally and the community in which we live. Everything from roads and recycling, to education and climate change. If you don’t think your vote will make a difference, we need to remember that every vote does count, because it is counted, and the result of all our votes can speak volumes, even if the candidate we vote for isn’t elected!

Across the world people have died fighting for the right to vote and be part of a democracy. By

Another reason I am writing about the importance of voting is because on Shrove Tuesday, this year, the House of Bishops of the Church of England issued a Letter about the forthcoming General Election, entitled, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ The Letter is addressed to the Parishes and People of the Church of England.

However, the bishops add: ‘… as the Church of England strives to be a church which seeks the good of all the people of this country, we hope that others, who may not profess church allegiance, will nevertheless join in the conversation and engage with the ideas we are

sharing here’.

The Letter aims to encourage anyone and everyone to engage with the General Election; to vote, because the election affects all of us. However, some people, including those in positions of influence in the media, politics and elsewhere, claim that religion and politics cannot mix.

There is a belief that religion belongs solely to the individual and must not encroach into the realm of political or economic life! The assertion that religion and political life must be kept separate is often insincere - most politicians and commentators are happy enough for the churches to speak on political issues so long as the church agrees with their particular line.

But Christian engagement with political issues has to go deeper than aligning the church with one party,policy, or ideology. The Christian faith, and the good news about Jesus Christ, demonstrates the importance of responding to the needs of all people,speaking up for them and working on their behalf, whoever they are, in our own town and community and across the world…As Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

Yours in the love of Jesus, The Revd Canon Mike Lodge Team Rector Parish of Rayleigh 01268 742151 info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk www.parishofrayleigh.org.uk

The Revd Canon Mike Lodge

ALITY TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO RE

odges L & es om H k ar P ed sh ni ur F ly Ful Shop Open 7 Days A Week 24 Hour CCTV Waterside Bar & Diner Pet Friendly Part Exchange Available

Release Equity Example CURRENT PROPERTY

£ 230,000

PARK HOME PURCHASE

£ 180,000 CASH BACK

£ 50,000

www.leisureparksuk.co.uk

Tel : 01245 320054 Burnham Road, Wickford Essex. SS11 7QT

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

25

GreenThumb

...treats lawns,

turning them from tired, weed infested areas into lawns you can be proud of.

Our simple lawn care services can cost you less than DIY, treatments start from just £15

KITCHENS | BATHROOMS | REFURBISHMENTS “We specialise in Kitchens, Bathrooms, Refurbishments & Building Works, all finished to the highest possible standards, with tradesmen you can trust”

01268 424890 | 07904 283540 info@rayleighinstallations.com www.rayleighinstallations.com

26

Anyone who has a kitchen or bathroom supplied and installed by us (booked in May*) will recieve £150 worth of John Lewis Vouchers.

*(T&Cs Apply)

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

Friday 8th May

Italian Wine Tasting Friday 22nd May

Dinner and Live Music Friday 5th June

Italian Night

Friday 19th June

Italian Wine Tasting Friday 10th July

Dinner and Live Music Friday 24th July

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CAFFÉ & DELI info@labottegaitaliana.co.uk | www.LaBottegaItaliana.co.uk

01268 525727 | 07557 546783 Barleylands Craft Village | Barleylands Road | Billericay | CM11 2UD

A UNIQUE GUARANTEE! If you develop a leak within 8 weeks of us recharging your system we will re-gas it again free of charge. *Offer subject to us carrying out all necessary repairs

Italian Night Book at -

nicky.08@live.com or call for more info.

*

At Bonair we are real car air con experts, where you will only receive honest & friendly advice.

We Offer: Re-gassing | Fault Tracing & Remedy | Leak rectification Hose & pipe repair | Complete system installations

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

27

Boxing is making a return to the back pages, and I suspect will even trump football on May 3rd when the fight of the decade takes place in Vegas between American Floyd Mayweather and Fillipino hero Manny Paquaio finally enter the same ring.

Super fights like this one don’t come around very often, but many different weight divisions are littered with British world title contenders as well as world champions, capable of participating in such super fights.

Britain could even host one of the world’s biggest fights if world champion Kell Brook and former world champion Amir Khan decide to get it on.

Gone are the days where England’s solitary world title hopes rested on Frank Bruno’s heavyweight success and Chris Eubank’s dazzling skills.

Now we have Luke Campbell, Anthony Joshua, Kevin Mitchell, Carl Froch, Kell Brook and Amir Khan, all either holding a belt or knocking on the door.

I want to focus on the local scene of boxing. We know that if taught right, Boxing is another great way for people to exercise and more importantly have the sense of belonging to a club and also can teach people to act with a certain level of discipline and control in their everyday lives.

While I think, we as a country, are happy for our children and family members to train and perhaps partake in amateur boxing bouts, like at the Olympics, I feel that fighting events for adults on the local scene have a huge stigma attached to them.

I asked a local boxing enthusiast and amateur boxer, Paul Tredgold some questions about the local fighting scene. Paul trains at The Locker Room in Southend and competes in local events.

How did you get into boxing and why did you choose Boxing when you obviously played other sports?

“I got into boxing through a friend of mine that boxed locally. I have great memories of watching the boxing with my Dad from a young age, watching guys like Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, and Herbie Hyde, when it was on terrestrial television. One day my Dad took me to my Uncle’s boxing gym, he put a pair of 8oz black boxing gloves on me and left me on the heavy bag, I didn’t move it much, but gave it a good go.

Boxing appealed to me because it brought out a personal motivation in me that other team sports failed to do.

It was a nice balance doing both, but as I have grown older it has helped me stay in shape and has made me work harder than I thought was possible to achieve certain goals.”

What would you say to someone who likes boxing, but does not get down to local fight nights?

“I would say give it a go. Boxing teaches respect, self discipline and much more, and this the staple of all boxing shows. Most local events lay on a nice meal, a good view of the boxing and allow you to be surrounded by your own family and friends, in your own area. Unfortunately, there seems to be a stigma about boxers, and boxing shows, but I believe they are incorrectly labelled. People think that the shows are full of intimidating fans that are just as aggressive as the loud brash boxers who want to fight everybody all the time. But the truth is most boxers that I know are usually very calm, respectful and humble people with an inner self confidence about them, which leaves them with a feeling of nothing to prove in a macho sense.”

Is it conducive to everyday life? How does your boss feel about going to work with a black eye?

“The philosophy of boxing can actually shape your everyday life

and definitely can go hand in hand with your current lifestyle whoever you are. It’s like my trainer and good friend James Chisholm often says, “We cannot make life any easier, but we can make ourselves tougher” what he means by that is by making us fitter and tougher mentally, life becomes easier, which is very true in my case. Where I work people are very supportive of what I do. My superiors always ask how I got on and see it as a very positive thing that I box. Boxing teaches a very ‘can do’ attitude and that it always welcome in any workplace.

I wouldn’t suggest fighting on an evening before an important client facing meeting where millions of pounds are at stake, but common sense should hopefully prevail.”

It is hard to sometimes look past the brutality of the sport and it is not going to be for everybody, however skill, courage, determination and agility are all things to be admired and Boxing ticks those boxes.

See below details of a local gym in the area that I am sure would welcome new members that either wish to compete or train.

The Locker Room www.thelockerroom.biz

ROCHFORD HUNDRED RUGBY CLUB Rochford Hundred Rugby Club is a local rugby club formed by three local residents in 1962 and today showcases rugby across all ages, ability and both genders covering over 20 teams. The 1st XV play in the RFU London 2 North East league and the club’s main focus is developing local players to as high a standard of rugby as it possibly can.

WOULD YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER LIKE TO TRY RUGBY? We are celebrating over 25 years of youth rugby and looking for girls and boys of all ages and abilities to continue into the next 25 years.

3 WEEKS FREE TRAINING TASTER PERIODS FOR ALL TEAMS Year 1 to Year 7 is Saturday mornings 10am - 12pm Year 8 to Year 11 and all Girls is Wednesday evenings 7pm - 8:30pm Year 12 and Year 13 is Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7pm - 8.30pm

COME ALONG AND HAVE A GO - THEY’LL LOVE IT! SOCIAL AND CORPORATE EVENTS

GIRLS AND WOMENS TEAMS

YOUTH AND MINI SIDES FROM UNDER 6

MULTI FUNCTION VENUE FOR ALL EVENTS

FAMILY ORIENTATED CLUB

SENIOR SIDES

Main 1st XV Sponsors (please see below)

- MAGNOLIA ROAD - HAWKWELL - ESSEX SS4 3AD Telephone 01702 544021 - Website WWW.ROCHFORDRUGBY.COM Twitter @ROCHFORDRUGBY - Facebook FACEBOOK.COM/ROCHFORDRUGBY THE RUGBY PARK

on your

PLOT Courgettes

There are not many vegetables that are as rewarding, and easy to grow, as courgettes. Now is a great time to get them started, they’ll pop up quickly and soon be supplying you with more tasty courgettes than you know what to do with!

Jobs for May:Keep on earthling up your potatoes to prevent the tubers from turning green.

If you’re planted peas don’t forget that they’ll need some support from sticks or netting that they can climb up.

With snow in April you’ll probably need to catch up with sowing crops that it was too cold for last month.

As the risk tender crops or peppers planted out, bags.

of frost passes, such as tomatoes can either be or on into grow

Start winter greens such as cabbages, sprouting broccoli and Brussels sprouts in a seedbed for transplanting to their final positions later.

30

If you’ve lost seedlings or had trouble getting them started with all the cold weather don’t forget that you can always buy plants that have already been started. Buying young plants in is a great way to experiment with different varieties too - with so many types of tomato available it’s more fun to have several plants, each of different kinds, than half a dozen all the same. There’s a good plant stand at the monthly farmers market, and several garden centres or local growers nearby.

May is the time to start off that wonderfully easy vegetable - the courgette. If you’ve never grown courgettes before then I can highly recommend it as they give such a high yield from even just a couple of plants. In fact that would be my main advice - don’t be tempted to grow too many or you’ll be inundated!

Plant the seeds undercover or on a windowsill from the beginning of the month. Put two seeds to a pot, laying them on their sides and covering with about 1” of compost. They usually germinate in a week to ten days and grow pretty rapidly. Remove the weaker of the seedlings (I always feel guilty when I do this! If it looks good I re-pot it).

When the seedlings have four to 6 leaves start to harden off by placing outside during the day. Plant out after all risk of frost has passed. You can also start courgettes outside, directly into the bed in which they’ll grow but I’d wait until later in the month when the soil is a bit warmer.

The plants will grow quickly, producing exotic looking yellow flowers (look out for recipes for the flowers too). For maximum yields the plants should be harvested regularly. Tiny courgettes are very tasty, and don’t be tempted too turn your back on the plants for too long as they grow large at an amazing rate! Be careful with watering when seedlings as the stems can rot, but they’ll need plenty of water once they have grown. If you’re short of space courgettes can be grown in grow bags, planting two to a bag.

With summer in mind, don’t forget to keep planting your salad crops. As well as the traditional lettuce there are a host of other salad leaves that can be grown, and it’s usually possible to buy packets of mixed salad seeds. Get in the habit of planting some at least once a fortnight - use some of the leaves to cut and come again for tasty fresh salad, transplanting some lettuces outside and allowing them to grow on to full size.

If you planted beetroot seeds out in March or April the chances are that they’ll have suffered with the very cold weather that we had last month.

Another row sown now may well give you much better results.

Fancy your own, home grown, Brussels sprouts with Christmas dinner? They need quite a long growing time, so think about starting them around now.

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

Nokes & Co, Squire House, 81-87 High Street, Billericay, Essex CM12 9AS 01277 633971

07949 266321

USEFUL NUMBERS

mark@nokesandco.co.uk

BIRTH, DEATH MARRIAGES REGISTRATION

01268 361350 01268 361351

POLICE Rayleigh Police Station

0300 333 4444

HOSPITALS Brentwood Hospital Basildon Hospital Broomfield Hospital Essex Nuffield Hospital Queen’s Romford Southend Hospital Spire Hartswood Hospital

01277 695000 0845 1553111 01245 443673 0800 688699 0845 1304204 01702 435555 01277 232525

HELPLINES Alcoholics Anonymous Childline DIAL Disability Helpline Drugline Essex In Focus (family disabilities support)

Narcotics Anonymous Parentline Samaritans S. Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre Victim Support Essex Women’s Refuge

CHEMISTS Boots the Chemist, Rayleigh 01268 771883 Audley Mills, Rayleigh

01268 776479

Lloyds Pharmacy, Rayleigh

01268 771703

Grange Pharmacy, Rayleigh 01268 784192 Hambro, Rayleigh

01268 781623

Yardley Chemist

01268 743283

BLOOD TEST Booking Line NHS Direct

01245 256147 0800 11 11 11 01268 294400/1 01708 749151 01245 353575 0300 9991212 0808 8002222 08457 909090 01375 380609 0845 4565995 01268 541140

01268 242159 0845 4647

ROAD & TRAVEL UPDATES Essex Travel www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/essex COUNCILS Rochford District Council

01702 546366

Rayleigh Town Council

01268 741880

TRANSPORT Bus Service

0870 6082608

Rail Service

08457 484950

www.nokesandco.co.uk

TAXIS Rayleigh Taxi Bestax Abba Cars Cab Call

01268 531888 01268 777300 01268 771666 01268 777300

UTILITIES Anglian Water 0345 145145 Electricity – Power Supply Problems 0800 7838838 Gas – Urgent Calls / Gas Escapes 0800 111999 Minicom – Transco 0800 371787 Thames Water (Supply or Wastewater Services) 0845 9200800 Three Valleys Water 0345 823333 Water – Essex & Suffolk Water 01245 491234 VETS YourVets Vets4Pets Rochford Veterinary Surgery Downes Vets Medivet LIBRARIES Rayleigh

01268 745180 01268 772283 01702 545558 01268 776883 01702 413902

0845 603 7628

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

31

essex autogroup RAYLEIGH

MX-5

S A L E S | S E R V I C E | PA R T S Real Reviews. Real People. Real Experiences.

9.8

FIND US — SS7 3NL

out of 10

Based on 450 reviews, as at 17/APRIL/2015

real reviews views from

CRAIG — Rayleigh, Essex “A good experience with Rayleigh, all staff keen to help out where and when they can. Good customer service on purchasing the car together with the after sales service.”

essexautogroup.com | 01277 525327

Doing it even better for you STADIUM WAY, RAYLEIGH, ESSEX, SS7 3NL