Rail fares in Southend and surrounding areas will either be frozen or slightly reduced in the New Year.
Train company chiefs from National Express - which owns and runs the two lines between Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria and the c2c service between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness - said fares would stay as they were or be reduced by 0. Click to continue reading...

Plans for a massive £5m revamp of Southend's iconic pier have been thrown into chaos after the council missed out on vital government cash. The town was hoping to attract £4m worth of funding from the Department of Culture Media & Sport's Sea Change Programme in its bid to rejuvenate the much-loved seafront landmark. Click to continue reading...

Plans for a massive £5m revamp of Southend's iconic pier have been thrown into chaos after the council missed out on vital government cash.
The town was hoping to attract £4m worth of funding from the Department of Culture Media & Sport's Sea Change Programme in its bid to rejuvenate the much-loved seafront landmark. Click to continue reading...

Southend's Christmas-on-Sea festivities are taking place today (Sat 14th).
Here's a useful timing guide:
•9am till 8pm - Christmas Market with German sausages, gluhwein, gingerbread,
traditional gifts and much more
•8.30am till 5pm – Christmas Farmers and Craft Market with Christmas treats and unique gift ideas
•12noon till 2. Click to continue reading...

BREAKING NEWS:
Southend United have signed Swindon defender Sean Morrison on an one month loan deal.
The 6ft 1in 18 year old goes straight into the squad for today's game at Yeovil.
He's played less than 30 first team games for Swindon, but most of those appearances have come this season. Click to continue reading...

The local charity HARP - which helps homeless people in Southend and surrounding areas - has been severely criticised by locals in Westcliff, who say a new overnight facility would cause untold problems for people living in the area.
HARP currently has two centres - one on York Road, which acts as a night centre, and the Westcliff site, which operates during the daytime. Click to continue reading...

Longpier.com is teaming up with local fab food site Essex Gourmet to give you the chance to win tickets to a cracking event in London this December.
Essex Gourmet, your local guide to fabulous food and drink in Essex – tried and trusted - is giving away 3 pairs of wonderful ‘Taste of Christmas' tickets! Click to continue reading...

Southend United have paid an outstanding debt of £2.135 million in full and have, therefore, avoided administration and a ten point penalty.
The High Court in central London today (Monday 9th) confirmed the club had paid its outstanding tax bill and proceedings would be dismissed
The club has published this official statement:
"The Club's Chairman, Ron Martin, has today (3pm) confirmed that one of his Group Companies has now paid, in full, the tax due to HMRC in the sum of £2. Click to continue reading...

This weekend sees the launch of Discuss Southend - a brand new forum for Longpier.com readers.
We're teaming up with excellent resource website sarfend.co.uk to provide you with a place to air your views, comment on the stories that matter to you and read what others are thinking. Click to continue reading...

International arts group METAL - based in Chalkwell Park in Southend - has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest line of continuous bunting.
The continuous stream of small flags, cotton and ribbon was created by more than 50 local schools and community groups. It's the exact length of Southend on Sea's landmark pier - 2158 metres or 1. Click to continue reading...

Back in the 1950s and 60s, the Southend Odeon was THE place in south Essex to see not just nationally, but internationally famous acts and groups. Doubling up as a cinema and an auditorium, the Odeon - on Southend High Street - was consistently putting on major shows and acts to more than 2,000 people at a time. Click to continue reading...

No decision will be taken over the future of the indoor York Road Market in Southend, until a comprehensive consultation has been carried out, longpier.com understands.
The 90-year old indoor market was suddenly closed on October 17, after a structural report on the building revealed potentially dangerous health and safety issues. Click to continue reading...

The decision on whether Southend United will go into administration and be docked 10 points has been delayed until Monday.
More follows... Click to continue reading...

If you've just arrived at Longpier.com for the first time, welcome along.
This is a news, sport and features site dedicated to the people and places around Southend and surrounding areas.
If you'd like to ask a question or give comment on Southend United's predicament, or you're a member of the media looking for comment, then you can get in touch:
Email: longpier@gmail. Click to continue reading...

Southend United will today (Wed) learn whether they will enter administration and be deducted 10-points from their League One tally.
Yesterday (3rd), at around 8pm, a bid to take over the club by a consortium of local businesses was turned down by the board of SUFC. The un-named 10-strong party had wanted to buy the club for a nominal fee, rid it of its debts and - according to its spokesman - push the business forward. Click to continue reading...