I DO hope we've seen the last of the snow for this winter. Why? Well, among other things all the salt and grit is used up from the roadside grit bins, and they won't be refilled until November. Essex County Council only fills them once a year.
A lot of our roads are now in a terrible state, and we will be watching closely for the county council to repair them, but, hats off – the whole length of the High Street has been resurfaced this week, which was well overdue.
Welcome, Domino's. Do we need another pizza place? Only time will tell. I'm pleased that Basildon Council decided Domino's could stay open until 2am seven days a week, not 5am as it requested. The town council sent Cllr Davie, chairman of planning, to make the point to the licensing committee that we thought such hours could lead to disturbance. Apparently 70 per cent of all Domino's pizzas are ordered for delivery, and 30 per cent for collection.
Billericay really has a great range of eateries.
In fact Billericay is one of the better performing high streets across the country at the moment. Whereas a lot of towns have a large percentage of empty shops, Billericay has very few. Yellow Jersey Cycles has moved in, and The Gift Shop has moved into larger premises, to the former Pamela shop. Last year, when the office supplies shop closed, Billericay Homecare expanded to increase its range. Did you know you can buy haberdashery there? Whatever you think of Poundland, I would rather have the shop open for business than standing empty.
When Village Bar and Grill closed, we didn't have to wait long for Chimi Changa.
Some of you mourn the loss of the Storyteller bookshop, but when big music shops like HMV are going out of business, our own Slipped Discs moved up and joined with Brown Sugar to provide a great combination. This gave Masons the Butcher a chance to open up. Did you know that shop was once the butchery department of the Co-op? When the Emporium moved to be closer to the Cookshop, we got a tapas bar.
If you can, do your shopping in Billericay. When you want to eat out, choose a town restaurant. Although we have fewer pubs now than when we were full of coaching inns, I'm sure you can find one to suit your taste.
The town council along with Basildon Council and ECC will do their best to keep the place looking nice.
If there is anything you can think of that would help make Billericay a better place, call the town clerk on 01277 625732 or e-mail townclerk@billericaytowncouncil.gov.uk