SATURDAY PITSTOP WITH ALLEN FORD – 29 Sept 2007

SATURDAY PITSTOP WITH ALLEN FORD – 29 Sept 2007

First guest to make a Saturday Pitstop on Phoenix FM this morning was Sheila Bailey, who’s part of St Mary Magdalen’s development group.  St Mary Magdalen in its present form dates back to 1780, when the 15^th century tower was left standing while the chapel below was built using local red brick.

Since its congregation moved to Billericay’s Emmanuel Church 15 years ago because St Mary Magdalen had become too small, the High Street building has become a mixed use community centre.  Regular worship continues on Wednesday mornings but St Mary Magdalen also continues as a social meeting place.

A booklet titled ‘St Mary Magdalen: the church in the High Street’ concludes:  “The future is in the hands of the Billericay townspeople.  When they make use of what St Mary Magdalen has to offer, they will make sure that it continues to play a prominent role in the town and provide that St Mary Magdalen will be maintained for many generations to come.

To book St Mary Magdalen or for more information, contact secretary of its Friends group, Angela Clarke, on 01277 632120.

In the Saturday Pitstop’s second hour publican Marko Howard, of Brentwood Association of Safer Licensed Establishments (BASLE), called in to explain the newly launched scheme.  Known as a BOB – Behave or be Banned – scheme for short, the idea is that Brentwood publicans work together ensuring that a ban from one licensed premises in the town means exclusion from them all.

Brentwood has followed Chelmsford and Colchester in starting a BOB scheme, preventing banned drinkers from those towns decamping to another centre such as Brentwood.  Meeting every four weeks, BASLE members declare any bans they have introduced and discuss whether to implement across the town.

If criminal behaviour was involved, a Brentwood-wide ban is automatic – supported by pictures of the reveller distributed among BASLE members.  Within two weeks of being established, around 20 license holders have signed up to BASLE.  The total number of liquor licences running in Brentwood is over 80, including all pubs, bars, clubs, off-licences, supermarkets and restaurants.

BASLE contacts are Marko Howard, of Murphys sports bar, on 01277 212860;  chairman of the scheme Simon Cleary, 01277 200885;  or Essex Police’s John Cousins, 01279 621851.

Article by Oliver Rowe, 29 Sep 2007
Posted in Saturday Morning with Oliver Rowe

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