Basildon District Council run refuse tip for household waste at Pitsea marsh is closed. The site off Pitsea Hall Lane, which covers around 13 acres, was accessed via a road (since closed off) situated adjacent to the existing sewage treatment works, opened in the 1930s by Billericay Urban District Council. The main tipping area, which is bordered by Timberman's, Pitsea and Vange Creeks, all of which are tidal, was used from July 1948 by the Council's dustcarts and later by Basildon Development Corporation contractors, depositing spoil from the new town housing estates, then under construction. The area, some of which due to tipping is reclaimed marshland, has now been landscaped but remains closed to the public for the foreseeable future.

Hotel Campanile at Burches, Pipps Hill, Basildon opened.

An auction of Lots relating to commercial property and land assets in Basildon town centre was held in London. The ownership of these had been with Basildon Development Corporation whose successor, the Commission for the New Towns, had been tasked with the job of disposal. The sale resulted in 16 different private landowners.

February

The very first U.K. Travel Inn (Hotel), opened adjacent to The Watermill (Beefeater) at East Mayne, Basildon.

4th March

Basildon boxer Terry Marsh, 29, known as the 'fighting fireman', wins the International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Light-Welterweight title after defeating current American champion Joe 'Louis' Manley from Lima, Ohio. The fight, staged in a 'Supertent' on the Pipps Hill Close original Basildon Festival Hall car park, ended with a knockout in round 10.

June

The National Motorboat Museum at Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea officially opened. Ian Robertson, President of the Museums Association (1986-1987), performed the opening duties.

11th June

David Amess (later Sir) (21,858) is re-elected Conservative Member of Parliament for the Basildon constituency. He won the seat with an increased majority of 2,649 after defeating Labour candidate Julian Fulbrook for the second time.

11th June

Teresa Gorman is elected Conservative Member of Parliament for the Billericay constituency, which includes the Laindon Ward. She took the seat, previously held by Harvey Proctor who had stood down in the wake of an impending court case, with an overwhelming majority of 17,986 over Michael Birch, who was standing for the Liberal Social Democrat Party Alliance. She had previously, as Teresa Moore, stood unsuccessfully as an Independent at Streatham, south London in 1974, where she polled 210 votes. The Conservative Party won the general election.

1st July

Basildon World Champion boxer Terry Marsh successfully defends his title won in Basildon on 04/03/1987 against the Japanese contender Akio Kameda, from Sano, Tochigi, at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The bout ended when his opponent retired on doctors' orders at the end of round 6. This was Marsh's final professional fight before retiring. At the time of his retirement he was undefeated having drawn only one of his 26 professional contests. He remains the only English boxer to retire as undefeated World Champion, and one of only two United Kingdom World Champions to retire undefeated.

19th September

The Terry Marsh Centre in Crest Avenue, Pitsea officially opened by former World Light-Welterweight boxing champion Terry Marsh. Situated within Eversley Recreation Ground and built at a cost of £1.5 million, the new Basildon Council run facility offers a wide choice of sports and leisure activities for all ages. The main entrance foyer features a large tiled mural of the Lee Chapel South based boxing champion. Marsh, 29, just five days earlier had announced his retirement from boxing. Basildon Council Chairman, Cllr. David Harrison, who attended the event, said: "The Terry Marsh Centre is a permanent tribute to our local hero who we are rightly proud of". In 1993 the council decided to rename the facility to the Eversley Centre, which it remains to the present day. In 2011 Sport and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM) under the brand name Everyone Active took over the everyday running of the centre.