Latest news with #DanielleBelton
BBC News
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Rochford Council to trial 30-minute free parking scheme
Drivers will be able to park for free for up to 30 minutes in a council's car parks in a move to support local Council in Essex has agreed to try out the free parking scheme at most of its 11 car parks for the next three months "to help boost footfall".The council's leader, Conservative Danielle Belton, said the decision was something requested by business and residents "for a number of years".According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a meeting of the council's economic development, regeneration, and tourism committee heard the trial could cost the authority up to £42,000 for the three month period. Belton said it could also help with parking issues around schools, as parents could use short-term free spaces at drop off and pick up to council documents, the cost of a 30-minute stay in most surface car parks in the district was reduced last year from 70p to 55p in an effort to stimulate activity on the high said: "Ultimately, the council is dedicated to supporting our local businesses and especially the town centres, and it's a documented fact in other towns that short stay parking can help boost footfall. She added the council had built up more money from the car parks than it had spent, meaning it now had reserves to implement the new policy."The end goal is we see a better footfall in the town, which then creates more of a drive for other businesses to consider coming here, if they see we've offerings where people can pop into town, grab a coffee, grab a takeaway, do some errands, whatever it may be."The free parking will not apply to The Approach near Rayleigh Train Station and Hockley Woods Car Park. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
'It's devastating': Council leader reacts after boy 'stabbed' in south Essex attack
A COUNCIL leader has described an alleged stabbing in Hawkwell as "absolutely devastating" and "completely out of the norm" for the area. Danielle Belton, leader of Rochford Council, spoke to the Echo expressing sadness after a teenage boy was reportedly stabbed on Clements Hall Way on Friday evening, leading to two arrests. Essex Police were called to the scene at around 6.50pm following reports that a group had been attacked by two suspects. One victim sustained a leg injury and was taken to hospital for treatment. According to reports, he was stabbed in the leg during the incident. Two 17-year-old boys – one from London and one from Leigh – were arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and remain in custody. "It's absolutely devastating for something to happen like this in our district, as it's completely out of the norm," Ms Belton said. "And as I understand it, these were two boys from outside of the area. Obviously, my thoughts are with the young boy that was allegedly stabbed and with his family. And I hope he's okay and that he makes a swift recovery." She praised the emergency services' response, adding: "I'm very thankful to the emergency services for acting quickly and for arresting the two suspects. But yeah, I just, I urge anyone with information to come forward to the police. And I hope we don't see something like this again. It seems very worrying for our area and something that we're not used to." Ms Belton said she was waiting for full details from police rather than speculating. "As of now I only know as much as what the police have put out, I'll wait for the full details rather than speculate, but as we understand it, there was an alleged stabbing," she said. "My main concern is for that of the young boy who has been assaulted, but will have to wait for the full details to come out from Essex police. "And I'd like to again emphasize that this really it is unusual. It's not the norm around here, but one time is too many, and it shouldn't happen." The council leader revealed she had recently met with the High Sheriff of Essex to discuss preventing knife crime, describing youth services as something she was "very passionate about". "Only last week, I met with the High Sheriff of Essex and we were talking about incentives for youth and we actually were talking about ways to prevent knife crime in the area. So I mean, it's tragic that this has happened, but it is something that we are trying to tackle and we want to help educate these young people so that they don't carry knives in the first place. "But it's a big piece of work. It's something that obviously there's more of an issue with in city centres, but we do not want that rolling out into our suburban areas, so we need to need to act swiftly to find the right services and the right thing to help our youngsters. to ensure others don't end up in a similar situation on either side of the knife, either as the victim or as the perpetrator."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Support withdrawn for 10,000 homes plan near city
Pressure on towns and villages have made plans for 10,000 new homes "unsuitable", a council leader said. It came as Rochford District Council withdrew its support for the new town on land sprawling across Southend-on-Sea and Shoeburyness. The local authority made the decision during a meeting of its planning policy committee. Conservative leader Danielle Belton said: "Our district simply does not have the capacity for this scale of development." The council had previously submitted a joint "expression of interest" to the government with Southend-on-Sea City Council, which has not reversed its support. A report discussed during the meeting showed the new town would have included a new country park. The earmarked land was north of Fossetts Way and Bournes Green Close. Councillors voted to tell the government they would be withdrawing an expression of interest in the development. Belton said there was no evidence to show 10,000 homes were needed in the area. "Continuing to support the EOI [Expression of Interest] risks giving the impression that we endorse vast, unsuitable growth, at a time when our towns and villages are already under pressure," she added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Plans for thousands of new homes 'insane' - MP Calls for probe into 10,000 new homes plan Essex housing target increases by 37% Rochford District Council
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rochford District Council withdraws support for 10,000 homes plan
Pressure on towns and villages have made plans for 10,000 new homes "unsuitable", a council leader came as Rochford District Council withdrew its support for the new town on land sprawling across Southend-on-Sea and local authority made the decision during a meeting of its planning policy leader Danielle Belton said: "Our district simply does not have the capacity for this scale of development." The council had previously submitted a joint "expression of interest" to the government with Southend-on-Sea City Council, which has not reversed its support.A report discussed during the meeting showed the new town would have included a new country earmarked land was north of Fossetts Way and Bournes Green Close. Councillors voted to tell the government they would be withdrawing an expression of interest in the said there was no evidence to show 10,000 homes were needed in the area."Continuing to support the EOI [Expression of Interest] risks giving the impression that we endorse vast, unsuitable growth, at a time when our towns and villages are already under pressure," she added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tories back in power at district council
The political leadership at a local authority has changed hands following an annual council vote. Rochford District Council is now run as a joint administration by the Conservatives, Rochford District Residents (RDR) and the Rochford and Foulness Wakering Independents (RFWI). Until recently, the council was jointly run by the Liberal Democrats and independents. Its new leader, Conservative Danielle Belton, said the three groups would work together on "shared priorities". "Given the current uncertainty due to local government reform, we believe that transparent, engaging and member-led leadership is vital for the future of the district, and that is what we intend to deliver," she said. Local councils in England are due to be dismantled and replaced as part of a major shake-up of local government. RDR councillor John Mason was made the deputy leader and said his party would be "working for residents" in coalition with the other two groups. Arthur Williams, group leader for RFWI, said his party shared "common goals" with his cross-bench colleagues. No single political party has had a majority in Rochford in recent years. The Tories have 10 members, RDR have eight, Lib Dems have eight, RFWI have three and 10 other councillors are from independent groups. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Labour takes Thurrock as Tories suffer election blows Plans for thousands of new homes 'insane' - MP Rochford District Council
