Cllr Matt Dent

For information about donating food, drop-off points, warehouse opening hours, etc: champ.ly/lsMdPRyp

A photograph of a whiteboard listing the five most needed items by Southend Foodbank for the current week, (Mashed potato! cereal, tins of tuna, sweetcorn and tins of mince and onion) in front of a mini-trolley filled with those items, against a background of crates of food at the foodbank, with the Southend Foodbank logo in the top left corner.

🍽SOUTHEND FOOD BANK'S MOST NEEDED ITEMS THIS WEEK🍽

This week, the items Southend Foodbank most urgently need are:

🥔Instant mash
🥣Breakfast cereal
🐟Tins of tuna
🌽Sweetcorn
🥫Minced beef and onion
🛍And strong re-useable carrier bags

Promotional graphic for a "SEND SURGERY". The top half features a warm, smiling photo of a family: a man in a white polo shirt, a young child in an orange top, and a woman wearing a light brown hijab. The bottom half has a maroon background with a vibrant pink speech bubble logo saying "SEND SURGERY." To the right, text reads: Tuesday, 24 March, 9am–11am, at Fairways Primary School, The Fairway, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 4QW

The Southend Council SEND Team holds monthly SEND surgeries in locations across Southend to answer questions and provide advice to parent carers of children and young people with SEND.

The next surgery will be 09.00 to 11.00 on Tuesday 24 March, at Fairways Primary School.

📶Telecoms works by Openreach at 48 Eastern Esplanade, between 12 and 16 March - 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆.

🚧Highway works by Southend Council at junction of Sutton Rd and Queensway Roundabout, between 3 February 2026 and 3 February 2027- 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆.

🚧Highway works by Southend Council at Porters Grange Subway, between 8 December 2025 and 3 February 2027 - 𝗡𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆.

🚧Highway works by Southend Council at Surbiton Ave, between 12 and 13 March - 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 (𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲) 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.

🚆Railway works by National Rail outside Southend East station, Riviera Dr, between 17 October and 10 June - 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 (𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀) 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.

🚧Highway works by Southend Council at Sutton Rd spur road opposite Barringtons, between 2 February and 27 April - 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆.

🚧Highway works by Southend Council at Porters Grange Roundabout, between 12 January 2026 and 21 January 2027 - 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆.

🚧Highway works by Southend Council at Queensway from approx. Chichester Rd to Whitegate Rd, between 8 December 2025 and 3 February 2027 - 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆.

🚧Highway works by Southend Council at Queensway Slip Roads, between 31 October 2025 and 21 January 2027 - 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆.

A map showing the planned highway works in Kursaal ward for the week 9 to 15 March, with Cllr Matt Dent's logo depicting the Kursaal dome over text reading "Cllr Matt Dent/Your Voice for Kursaal" in the bottom right corner.

🚧HIGHWAY WORKS IN KURSAAL WARD THIS WEEK🚧

The following highway works are scheduled for this week either in #KursaalWard, or close enough to Kursaal ward to potentially affect residents.

I can say without doubt that Kursaal has the best representation in the borough, and the lion's share of it is down to my fearless colleagues.

Both @ireneferguson.bsky.social and Cllr Chris Webster are an inspiration to work with. I am enormously proud to be a member of this team, and to be able to witness and learn from them bringing their different experiences and skillsets to bear on the problems of Kursaal ward and its residents.

As today is International Women's Day, it seems only fair to recognise the two women who I work alongside in #KursaalWard.

Have you heard the big news? The Kursaal has a new leaseholder! This is a big step towards saving this historic building, and getting it reopened once again.

Happy International Women's Day to women and girls in #KursaalWard, Southend, and around the world.

Today's the day!

There's lots going on for Southend City Day. Find out more here: champ.ly/lODqZgdm

Southend… we’ve got something big to share 👀

We’ll be announcing it tomorrow at Southend City Day on the City Stage after 17.00🎤

If you’re coming along, you won’t want to miss it.

#SouthendCityDay 🎉

This activity is available between 09.00 and 13.00 and between 14.00 and 16.00 on Saturday 3 January, whilst stocks last. It is suitable for ages 4 and up, with parental supervision, and costs £1 per child.

A graphic reading "Crafty Kids/Saturday 7th March/Southchurch Library/10am-1pm & 2pm-4pm/£1 per child/Show someone how tea-rrific they are with these popup cards!/Age 4+ with parental supervision" with images of popup cards.

🦅CRAFTY KIDS AT SOUTHCHURCH LIBRARY - THIS SATURDAY🦅

The first Saturday of the month is Crafty Kids at Southchurch Library! This month your little ones can craft tea-themed pop-up cards.

📚SOUTHCHURCH LIBRARY CLOSED FRIDAY AFTERNOON📚

Unfortunately, due to staff sickness Southchurch Library will be closed this afternoon from 14.00.

The library will be open as usual from 09.00 on Saturday 7 March.

Residents of #KursaalWard with any questions or concerns about planning applications can, as ever, get in touch with me at cllrdent@southend.gov.uk.

More information about any planning application can be found on the Council's website, at: champ.ly/QCS0kgKo

Ward councillors have the discretion to all most types of applications in to be decided by the Planning Committee, rather than by planning officers using delegated powers. If you think I should exercise this discretion in relation to an application, please let me know.

Planning application 26/00261/FUL, pertaining to Grange Heights, 62-64 Southchurch Avenue, for change of use of two commercial units (Class E) to create two additional self-contained flats (Class C3), alterations to elevations.

🏡PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS WEEK🏡

Each week I post details of any planning applications received by Southend Council in the past week, within #KursaalWard. This week there was one.

If you're not sure whether you live in #KursaalWard, these are the boundaries of the ward.

My re-election posters have arrived!

On 7 May I will be asking the people of #KursaalWard for another term as their champion. If you live in Kursaal and want to support me, I'd be honoured and grateful if you'd display one of these posters in your window.

Drop a reply or message if you want one!

Today is World Book Day!

What are you reading at the moment? And what's your favourite book?

I'm currently working through George RR Martin's "A Clash of Kings", in hope of a release date for "The Winds of Winter". And my favourite book is probably Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonflight".

How about you?