SATURDAY PITSTOP WITH ESSEX FORD BILLERICAY – 28.6.8

Competition

Today's show included a simple competition for the above 500+ page book.  Priced £20, The Ford in Britain File was donated by show sponsor Essex Ford Billericay.  To win a copy, send your answer to the following question to radio@phoenixfm.com:

Where is Essex Ford Billericay located?

A)  Essex Way
B)  Brentwood Boulevard
C)  London Road

Billericay's 2008 Dragon Boat Race

Following the success of last year's Dragon Boat Race, this year it will be repeated on September 7 from 10am.  A venue change to Lake Meadows brings the race closer to town and teams of 17 (16 paddling, 1 drumming) are invited to register.

The event can accommodate 21 boats and two thirds of places are taken already.  In return for a £20 per person fee, boat and equipment is supplied.  Organisers the Rotary Club of Billericay are fundraising for St Luke's Hospice, Essex Air Ambulance and Billericay Youth Town Council.

Rotary president Dorothy Cantrell came on today's Saturday Pitstop appealing for interested teams to get in touch.  Speak to Tina or Tracy at Billericay's Olive Branch Shop on 01277 658787.

Travellers take over?

Joyce Winstone wrote her letter headlined 'Travellers take over' to the local paper on the day after five travellers' caravans arrived on Brentwood Centre land, in Doddinghurst Road.  Because the eviction notice served only ordered them off the car park, the group moved across the road to Bishops Hall Community Centre, which they left on June 23 after staying only three days at both spots.

Joyce, who has lived at nearby Balmoral Road, Pilgrims Hatch for 8 years, said:  "How many will tut tut because these people pitched caravans there, but how many will bother to get the council's comment form regarding suggested sites for gipsies and travellers and act accordingly?"

Joyce came on the Saturday Pitstop show to talk about the ongoing consultation on where to put new traveller sites in Brentwood.  It ends on July 11 and the comment form mentioned by Joyce are obtainable from the Town Hall reception and online at www.brentwood.gov.uk

Towns the size of Brentwood and Billericay throughout the eastern region have been asked by government to identify authorised traveller sites able to take around 30 caravans.  Part 1 of the consultation last year gathered in all suggested locations which have since been circulated this month to all households in the borough.

A total of 18 sites were mooted, many by Brentwood's Gypsy Support Group.  All have been listed, no matter how unworkable.  They are:

1.         Stock Lane, Ingatestone
2.         Roman Road, Mountnessing
3.         Hope Farm, Goatswood Lane, Navestock Side
4.         Curtis Mill Lane
5.         Chivers Lane
6.         William Hunter Way
7.         Ex pallet industrial site off A127 at Great Warley
8.         Former Holly Tree School's playing field, Crescent Road, Warley
9.         Old A12 works, Ingatestone
10.       Wenlocks La
11.       Swallows Cross
12.       A127/A128 junction
13.       Thoby Priory, Mountnessing
14.       Adjacent to Bentley camp site
15.       M25/A12 junction
16.       Adjacent to Coxtie Green Road recycling centre
17.       Hutton Country Park
18.       Lower Road, Mountnessing

From Essex Ford BillericayFind out where Essex Ford Billericay is located online at www.essexford.com or by phoning them on 01277 652242.  Once you know, enter our competition at the top of this page and win the £20 motoring book pictured.