2000

5 September

The James Hornsby High School relocates to the former Nicholas school site at Leinster Road, where the building has been extensively refurbished. The first day of the new term is for Year seven pupils only - Years Eight to Eleven attending the following day.

2001

January

Progression, a sculpture by Rochford born artist Michael Condron, is unveiled in Town Square, Basildon. The three figures, made from electro polished stainless steel, formed the centrepiece attraction of a large square raised green. The leading figure stands 5 metres high upon a plinth and carries an illuminated sphere. No formal ceremony took place though the artwork was completed and brought to the town in December 2000 but kept covered while the site was being prepared. An earlier design, submitted by a different artist and uncompleted due to the artists death, had been planned for the plinth. The sculpture, commissioned by Basildon District community arts project, formed part of a Town Square regeneration project; begun in 1996, that included the erection of two large west pavilions, now occupied by Costa Coffee and Toni & Guy, hairdressers, and the demolition of part of Keay House (since renamed Southgate House), to create a more open plaza. In 2004 following concerns over safety a council vote deemed it a health hazard and the statue was moved on 28th July to Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea into storage and later resited in front of the Motorboar Museum where an unveiling ceremony was held on 25th February, 2005. The raised green was also removed in 2004 and tarmaced in possible preparation for a 3rd pavilion, which has yet to materialise.

28 March

Essex County Council's new Laindon Library opened. The new building occupies a site on the corner of New Century Road on land unused since the Radion Cinema was demolished in 1969. Years earlier the library was located at 3 High Road, in a parade of shops near the railway station, but had relocated to the Laindon Shopping Centre in the early 1970s. Councillor James Gordon and Martina Cole performed the opening ceremonies.

1 April

Noak Bridge parish council formed. The new parish elects seven councillors. The new parish council was formed as a result of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 which gave local councils the power to establish new parish councils. Noak Bridge was the sixth new parish council to form in the Basildon district since the legislation change. The others being: Great Burstead and South Green, Billericay Parish (later renamed Billericay Town), Little Burstead, Ramsden Crays and Ramsden Bellhouse.

29 April

Census statistics for the Basildon district; 165,661. Basildon Town; 102,400.

7 June

Angela Smith (21,551) re-elected Labour MP for Basildon and East Thurrock. Majority 7,738. John Baron (21,608) elected Conservative MP for the Billericay parliamentary seat which includes Pitsea and areas of Laindon. Majority 5,013. Labour win General Election.

1 August

Basildon College of Further Education merges with Thurrock College to become Thurrock and Basildon College.

November

Basildon Zoo closes. The Zoo, based in London Road, Vange, was home to a number of Mammals, Birds and Reptiles, but had faced a series of complaints relating to adverse conditions. The Zoo originally opened in 1971. A pet shop and garden centre on the same site remain open.

2002

Gifford House in London Road, Bowers Gifford, once headquarters of the Basildon Development Corporation, is demolished. The Corporation were based there from October 1949, and their successor the Commission For The New Towns (CNT) were the last occupants when they vacated in 1995. The site, later owned by English Partnerships, lay undeveloped for some years until completion of a new purpose built residential care home for the elderly opened in December 2006.

1 January

Swan Mead County Infant & Junior School in Church Road, Vange is renamed Cherry Tree Primary School.

1 January

Manor County Infant & Junior School in Church Road, Fryerns is renamed Willows Primary School.

1 January

Bardfield County Infant & Junior School in Clay Hill Road, Vange is renamed Bardfield Primary School and Nursery.

28 May

The main structure of Gloucester Park's bandstand is demolished. The site is completely cleared and grassed over. The bandstand built in the 1970s was the scene of many summer events with Erasure and Bad Manners among the many bands to grace the stage. The Concord Skateboard park, opened in July 2005, now occupies the site and its former concrete frontage.

2 September

The Powerhouse public house in Clay Hill Road, Vange, which had stood empty since closure in 1998 is finally demolished during this week. A new housing development of 2 bedroom flats was erected on the site. The pub, once known as The Bull, opened in the early 1960s and replaced an earlier pub of the same name that was demolished in 1961. It became The Powerhouse on 7th June, 1985.

2003

The Woodards residential care home in Tavistock Road, Laindon demolished. Constructed in the 1970s, the building and facilities were considered too small, and a new larger complex named Woodbury Court was later built in its place.

Evelyn May House residential care home opened. The three-storey, 58 bedroomed nursing home in Florence Way, Langdon Hills was built on land vacant following a High Road residential demolition, possibly as long ago as the 1980s.

May

Whife and Sloper Dairies close. The milk delivery business, which began in 1969, was based at Markhams Chase, Laindon and was the result of a merger. The name Sloper had a long association with Laindon going back to the early 1900s which also included shops in the High Road. Their vehicles, finished in blue and white livery, included a Morrison Electricar. The customer base was sold to Dairy Crest, who in 2000 had acquired the Unigate home delivery service based in Bluehouses (now Time Square), Basildon. In 2007 work began on erecting a semi-detached property on the main dairy site along with a second semi-detached house on land adjacent to one of the few remaining pre-new town bungalows left in Markhams Chase. These were in occupation by 2009.

25 August

The Fortune (formerly Fortune of War) public house at Laindon closes for business. The site was redeveloped with a new housing complex marketeded as Saxon Walk by property developer Barrett Homes.

September

The Jolly Cricketer's public house at Nevendon is demolished. The pub had stood empty before being set alight in a suspected arson attack.

1 September

Bluehouse Infant & Junior school in Leinster Road, Laindon becomes The Phoenix Primary School.

1 September

Pitsea Infant School is renamed The Len Wastell Infant School in honour of long serving school governor.

1 September

Pioneer School opened. The school is Essex County Council's Local Education Authorities (LEA) first New Model Special School for special needs children with learning difficulties and is an amalgamation of the former Moat House and Elmbrook schools. In January 2009 the school relocated to Ghyllgrove where a new building opened on an area of former playing field that was once part of De La Salle Catholic School. The former Moat House site in Church Road, Fryerns is awaiting fresh development.

6 September

The Toomey Clock unveiled. Positioned in the centre of a roundabout on the B184 West Mayne adjacent to the Toomey car and van dealership in Laindon, the 4 sided cast iron pillar clock stands approximately 12ft tall on an ornate brick plinth and is protected by a circular crash barrier. Finished in black and gold it was presented to the area as a gift to their customers. In April 2005 an identical clock costing £20,000 was unveiled at the Victoria roundabout in Hadleigh as a memorial to the former Castle Point MP Lord Bernard Braine who died in 2000. The Conservative peer first became an MP in 1950 representing Basildon as part of the Billericay constituency. He held the seat until 1955.

2004

Community radio station Gateway FM begins broadcasting to Basildon and the East Thurrock area. Based in Kelting House, Basildon and also from a unit in Eastgate Shopping Centre, the station was initially allowed two 28 day restricted service licence broadcasts a year at 87.7FM and an on-line webcasting presence. In February 2010 the station was awarded a five year community radio licence and now plans a full time service.

Redevelopment of the Five Links estate in Laindon begins a new phase with the demolition of maisonettes at Brendon, Handley Green. Hatterill is closed to through traffic during this time from the 26th August.

25 November

Northlands Park Childrens Centre in Davenants, Pitsea opened. An opening commemoration plaque reads: Northlands Park Childrens Centre opened by Emma & Paige The First Sure Start Family 25th Nov 2004.

2005

March

The Five Links estate regeneration programme at Laindon continues with the demolition of maisonettes at Somercotes. Hatterill is still closed to through traffic during this time.

19 March

Allders department store in Eastgate, Basildon closes after going into receivership. Debenhams, who established their first department store in 1905, took over the building soon after.

5 May

Angela Smith (18,820) re-elected Labour MP for the constituency of Basildon and East Thurrock. Majority 3,142. John Baron (25,487) re-elected Conservative MP for the Billericay parliamentary seat which includes Pitsea and areas of Laindon. Majority 11,206. Labour win General Election.

30 July

The Concord Skatepark in Gloucester Park opened. Built on land once occupied by the towns bandstand the skatepark was created through the joint efforts of Basildon Renaissance and the Basildon Concord Rotary Club at a cost of around £190,000. Angela Smith MP for Basildon and East Thurrock attended the opening ceremony.

Oct/Nov

Bedsit flats in Thistledown Court, Basildon are demolished as part of Basildon Council's regeneration scheme. The 42 flats in 4 three storey blocks (12 to a block x3 + 1 block of 6) were constructed around the mid 1970s on land adjacent to Church Road. A detached 2 storey house had previously stood in the vicinity until around 1973. The new housing development will provide 37 larger flats for the site.

24 November

Labour Transport Minister Derek Twigg, MP, attends an unveiling ceremony to officially open the new railway station building at Pitsea. Also in attendance is rail operator c2c's managing director Andrew Chivers. The previous single storey building housing the ticket office was constructed in the 1970s to replace the original 1800s built Station House but had been closed for a number of years before being demolished in June 2004.

2006

Jan/March

The two escalators linking Town Square with High Pavement are dismantled. They were constructed in the early 1970s as a link to the newly completed Northgate House and High Pavement amenities. A glass panelled stairway was also built to provide additional access, but this was later removed during the 1990s as part of the Town Square improvments, that also saw the removal of part of Keay House and renaming to Southgate House.

1 December

Gifford House Care Home in London Road, Bowers Gifford, opened by the Conservative MP for Billericay, John Baron. The new residential care home for the elderly was built on a site once occupied by the Basildon Development Corporation in a former residential home also called Gifford House, which was demolished in 2002. Amongst others in attendance at the opening ceremony were Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East, Chairman of Basildon District Council Cllr. Sandra Hillier and Councillor Geoffrey Buckingham.

2007

1 April

St. Georges Community Housing created by Basildon Council. Operating as an arms length management organisation (ALMO) and wholly owned subsidiary of the Council with headquarters at Dunton Court, Aston Road, Laindon and Alpi House, Miles Gray Road, Basildon they are tasked with the management of the district's housing stock of around 12,900 council homes and the maintenance of rented garages owned by the council. In 2010 as part of a cost cutting move St. Georges relocated to the Basildon Centre. The missing apostrophe in Georges was explained as a clerical error which would have been too costly to rectify. From 04/07/2011, and following consultation with SGCH tenants which included a vote, St. Georges Community Housing was wound up with all assets returning to overal council control.

May/June

Work carried out on the demolition of the former Laindon High Road secondary school. The school was sold by Essex County Council earlier in the year. A new housing development built by Bellway Homes called Radford Park now occupies the site of the former school.

May/June

Former Borg Warner (once York Shipley) factory and office complex in Gardiners Lane South, demolished.

24 July

H.R.H Prince Charles on an official visit is guest of honour to mark 40 years of the Ford Technical Centre at Dunton. Also in attendance was Chairman of Basildon Council, Geoff Buckenham and Lord Lieutenant of Essex Lord Petre.

4 October

The Essex Cardiothoracic Centre at Basildon Hospital is officially opened by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. Construction work on the new four storey heart and lung centre, built at a cost of £60 million, began in February, 2005. It opened on 1st July and welcomed its first patients on 2nd July, 2007.

December

Essex Ford vehicle dealership open an all new car and van facility at Dunton. Located just off the B184 West Mayne on a 5 acre site adjacent to the Ford Research and Development Centre, the new premises features include car and van showrooms, parts and accessories department, used car superstore and service centre as well as a large public car park. It replaces their Cherrydown East, Basildon location of more than 40 years. Its official opening was held on 2th January, 2008

2008

January

Demolition begins on the former Essex Ford car showroom and garage complex at Cherrydown East, Basildon. Opened in 1963 as S.E.M. (South Essex Motors), the site offered a wide range of services that included for many years a petrol forecourt. It closed when a new centre opened alongside the Ford Research and Development Centre at Dunton during the first week of December 2007. A seven storey office block called Essex House and once home to Social Services had also stood on the site before being demolished in the late 1990s. Residential apartments built by Weston Homes called Morello Quarter now occupy the site

March

The Icon luxury apartment block in Southernhay, Basildon, officially opened by leader of Basildon Council, Malcolm Buckley. This new part residential nine storey development of 121 one and two bedroomed luxury apartments, with prices starting at £159,995, was built by Hollybrook Property Developers. It stands on a site once occupied by the S.M.A.C. (Southend Motor & Aero Co.) who opened a showroom/workshop and Mobil filling station in 1962. This business later became Lookers and lastly Motor Market before the site fell into disuse in the early 2000s.

28 April

The first phase in the redevelopment of Laindon Shopping Centre begins when the clock is removed from Clock House. In early July demolition of Clock House began.

29 May

The new George Hurd Centre in Audley Way, Basildon is officially opened. John Baron, M.P. for Billericay carried out the opening duties. The new centre was built to replace the original centre which had stood in Fauners (off Cherrydown West) and was demolished during June/July 2008 to make way for a new housing development.

September

Seevic College in partnership with Prospects and South East Essex Colleges open a learning campus at The Icon, Southernhay, Basildon. Known as New Campus Basildon it offers educational opportunities to over 200 students.

1 December

English Partnerships, the United Kingdom's government's national regeneration agency and successor to the Commission For The New Towns and the Urban Regeneration Agency, becomes part of The Homes and Communities Agency. This new national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England also inherited the Housing Corporation, the Academy for Sustainable Communities and elements of Communities and Local Government.

6 December

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) opened a new Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC) at Paycocke Road, Basildon, Essex. The new centre, opened at a cost of £1.5 million, replaces the former test centre in Prittlewell Chase, Southend, which closed on 5th December.

27 December

High Street retail chain Woolworths close their shop at 23 Town Square, Basildon. The store, one of 807 nationally, opened in 1961 as F.W. Woolworth & Co Ltd. in one of the newly constructed units facing Town Square. It became Woolworths in the 1970s and closed when the company went into administration during a recession. The shop was then divided into two units with Poundland relocating from 50-52 Town Square into the larger of the two in 2009. The closure leaves W.H. Smith's as the last original surviving shop to have never moved their location in Town Square.

2009

15 January

Essex County Council's average speed cameras on the A127 between Nevendon and the Southend boundary come into force. Painted yellow and fixed above a matching single column gantry frame positioned in the central reservation they calculate a vehicles average speed over a set distance. Covering a distance of 6.2 miles the national speed limit (70 m.p.h.) remained unchanged for the first section between Nevendon and the Dick Turpin public house, a distance of 2.4 miles, while the remaining 3.8 miles has a new 50 m.p.h. speed restriction.

25/26 April

The Basildon heritage trail launched. Covering a distance of 12 kilometres (7.5 miles), the trail route takes in the town centre, Gloucester Park, St. Nicholas Church and the site of the former Basildon Hall. Local MP Angela Smith attended the opening along with project leader Vin Harrop.

May

The green open space known as Eastley Park on the Lee Chapel South estate is granted village green status. It became the first village green in Basildon following a long campaign to preserve the area from future development. An application to Essex County Council for approval was heard on 24th April, 2009.

1 September

The Barstable School in Timberlog Close, Barstable becomes The Basildon Lower Academy. Accommodating students aged 11-14 the new academy opened in new and refurbished blocks with the first lessons starting on 4th September, 2009. Barstable originally opened in 1962 as a Grammar and Technical School and later merged with Timberlog Secondary Modern to become Barstable Comprehensive and in 2006 became The Federation of Chalvedon School and Sixth Form College and Barstable Schools. In the 1990s the Timberlog site (known as the Lower School) was sold and developed into a housing estate. Mr Alan Roach, who held the headteachers post at Chalvedon and was Principal of the Federation, is appointed Executive Principal of the Basildon Academies.

1 September

Chalvedon School in Wickford Avenue, Pitsea becomes The Basildon Upper Academy. Accommodating students aged 14-19. Chalvedon School, when first opened in 1965, was the first comprehensive school to be built in Basildon. In January 2006 the school became The Federation of Chalvedon and Sixth Form College and Barstable Schools. The first lessons began on 4th September, 2009.

25 November

A new road linking Ghyllgrove with Cranes Farm Road is officially opened. Intended for bus and Basildon taxis the link road was originally planned for completion in the mid 1950s by the Basildon Development Corporation. The road was never built and a pedestrian overbridge was constructed which remained in place until being replaced with an underpass sometime in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The Corporation, in one of their final planning applications, submitted a proposal to open a link road for buses only but this could not be approved as there was insufficient time due to the Corporation's winding up order scheduled for April 1st, 1986. A large earthmound remained which during construction of the new link road revealed previously hidden remains of the former overbridge.

4 December

The Motorboat Museum at Wat Tyler Country Park closes. Originally opened in 1986 as the National Motorboat Museum the council run museum was home to almost 50 boats and a wealth of archive material. The building housing the collection was required for a large scale refurbishment due for completion in 2010.