BBC Local Live: Essex

Summary

Updates on Friday, 6 January 2017
Car 'driven into library and set alight'
Double-fatal crash: Essex man still in custody

Live Reporting

New chief executive of three Essex trusts 'will boost responses'published at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC News
The decision to appoint the chief executive of two Essex health trusts as the boss of a third - Southend University Hospital Trust - will help the trust "respond effectively and collaborately" to challenging times for the NHS, says the trust's chairman.
Clare Panniker (pictured above), chief executive of both Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust, has been appointed chief executive at Southend hospital.
Trust chairman Alan Tobias said: "Clare’s leadership and guidance will enable us to respond effectively and collaboratively in what are no doubt exciting but challenging times ahead, as we work together to ensure we are able to continue to provide the best possible services for our patients.”
Ms Panniker will be supported in her role at Southend by the appointment of chief nurse Yvonne Blucher as managing director, who will oversee the day-to-day running of the hospital site.
New chief executive of three Essex trusts 'looks forward to challenges'published at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC News
The new chief executive of Southend University Hospital Trust, Clare Panniker, has spoken of the "privilege" of being appointed.
Image source, Google
Ms Panniker, who is already in charge of Basildon, Thurrock and Mid Essex Hospitals, said: "With increasing demand for our services, the provision of compassionate, high-quality patient care has never been more important than it is today and collectively we now have the best chance of building a strong foundation for the future.
"I am looking forward to working with staff, our partners and our communities to ensure that we continue to deliver the very best possible care for the people of Southend and surrounding areas."
Chief executive of two Essex hospital trusts put in charge of thirdpublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Breaking
Nic Rigby
BBC News
The chief executive of both Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust, Clare Panniker, has been appointed as the new chief executive and accountable officer for Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Blaze at Clacton industrial buildingpublished at 10:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Dozens of firefighters have been tackling a blaze at an industrial unit in Clacton.
Crews were sent to the site on Stephenson Road last night.
Other units were also affected by the fire but there are no reports of any injuries.
An investigation into the cause is being carried out but it is believed to have been started by accident.
Szmodics set for U's returnpublished at 10:37 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
BBC Sport
Colchester United's Sammie Szmodics should be back in action in about six weeks', time according to the club, external.
The news follows an operation on his ankle yesterday.
Image source, Getty Images
Wild boar plan backed by council officerspublished at 09:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC News
We've been following the story of plans to increase the number of wild boars from 55 to 131 at a farm at Pitt Wood in New England on the Essex/Suffolk border.
Image source, Getty Images
New England Boar Company's application for a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act goes before Braintree District Council's licensing committee tonight.
A report by a vet appointed by the council says: "The currently licensed farm is well run with sound systems in place.
"The expansion is away from neighbouring dwellings and, in my opinion, is unlikely to cause any nuisance with regard to noise or smell."
The council report recommends that the increase of number of animals is agreed.
The firm provides wild boar meat for restaurants.
One from the archives: Southend Pier, 1950published at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Sixty-seven years ago this month, this photograph was taken of the pier at Southend-on-Sea. The Pier Pavilion burned down nine years later and in the 1960s was replaced by a bowing alley.
Image source, Getty Images
Urgent track repairs lead to further alterations to rail servicespublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
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Concern over plans to triple wild boar numbers at site near Braintreepublished at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC News
Residents living near Pitt Wood at New England on the Essex/Suffolk border say children's safety is under threat from plans to nearly triple the number of wild boar grazing there.
Braintree councillors are due to decide on the plans tonight.
Image source, Getty Images
A firm called New England Boar Company owns the land and has 55 wild boars on the site already.
It wants to increase that number to 131.
The company sells meat products made from the animals.
Local residents who live nearby say they're worried about so many boar being so close to an area used regularly by people with young children and pets.
They say concerns like safety, noise and odour pollution are being ignored.
Greater Anglia warns of alteration to servicepublished at 08:29 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
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Three people cut out of car after crashpublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Firefighters have had to cut three people from a car after it ended up on its side in a field in Orsett, near Grays. Crews were called to Rectory Road late last night.
Three people were left in the care of paramedics.
Good morning from Essex Livepublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC News
Welcome to Thursday's look at news, sport, travel and weather stories from across the county.
We'll be looking at concern for childrens' safety over plans to nearly triple the number of wild boar grazing in woodland near Braintree.
Between now and 18:00 the team here will keep you updated on what's happening in Essex, so if there's anything we're missing, we'd love to hear from you.
You can get in touch by email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.
Thursday's weather: Feeling cold despite sunshine laterpublished at 08:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 January 2017
Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather
After a chilly start, it'll be a bright and generally dry day, with plenty of sunshine around.
Winds will stay fairly light, with a top temperature of about 5C (41F).
If you're out and about early on, don't forget the Met Office has a yellow warning of ice, external in place until 10:00.
Watch my full regional forecast here:
Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
That's it for our BBC Essex coverage today. Do scroll back and take a look at what's been happening today. Among the stories we've covered are:
- Staff claim ambulance equipment was 'dirty and inadequate'.
- Chelmsford TA centre cordon lifted after 'suspicious package' found to be pens.
- Funeral of long-serving Essex county councillor held.
Have a good evening. The team will be back from 08:00.
Weather: Dry this evening with long clear spellspublished at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather
Staying mainly dry this evening with long clear spells but a risk of a few showers blowing in from the North Sea which may have a fleeting wintry flavour.
Feeling cold in the breeze overnight and a sharp frost will develop bringing a risk of ice.
Thursday will start cold but long spells of sunshine are expected although showers are possible across northern and eastern counties.
Maximum temperature: 6C (40F).
More details from BBC Weather.
Decision on new Thames crossing expected 'soon'published at 17:48 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
The BBC understands the Department for Transport will soon make an announcement on a new lower Thames crossing.
Highways England favours a tunnel between Gravesend and East Tilbury.
Speaking to the BBC this morning, the leader of Dartford Borough Council said a new crossing is vital for the whole county.
Quote Message
A huge amount of traffic is generated by East Kent and it wants to be anywhere but London. There can't be many capital cities where traffic is brought this close without wanting to be there. We need to deal with that part of the traffic that wants to go south, north, anywhere but into London. A new crossing east of Gravesend would sort that. In terms of the money, it's a revenue generator, over time it'll pay for itself".
Jeremy Kite, Leader, Dartford Borough Council
Southend sign ex-West Ham winger Hinespublished at 17:21 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Southend United sign former West Ham and Dagenham winger Zavon Hines on a contract until the end of the season.
Read More
Colchester sign defender Grandisonpublished at 17:21 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Colchester sign Jermaine Grandison on a contract until the end of the season after he impresses during a trial.
Read More
Forty Mersea Island homes still without landline after crashpublished at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Eight days after a car crashed into a telegraph pole in a village on Mersea Island, about 40 homes are still without a landline or internet.
Residents in East Mersea say engineers have told them it could take up to another week to restore the connection.
Firefighters called to historic Cross Keys in Saffron Waldenpublished at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Firefighters were called to one of Saffron Walden's most historic buildings earlier after one of its chimneys caught fire.
Image source, Chris Morgan/Geograph
It happened at The Cross Keys Hotel on the High Street at lunchtime today.
The building - which dates back about 850 years - was not badly damaged.