Essex
Main towns: Essex is mainly administered by Essex County Council. Southend-On-Sea and Thurrock are both unitary authorities. The three main towns in Essex are Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester.
Demographics: The county’s black and minority ethnic population stands at 2.9%, which is fairly low compared to the national average. The main industries are tourism, manufacturing, light industry and commercial. Unemployment stands at 1.6%, which is below the national average, and average wages are above the national average. Deprivation is generally low, with the county ranking 120th out of 150 on a government index of deprived areas. However, there are some areas of urban and rural deprivation in Basildon and Jaywick. Access to services is poor for some residents who live in outlying rural areas and do not drive or own cars.
There are some concerns about the lack of good infrastructure in the region. The Thames Gateway development programme aims to address this issue, although many believe too much attention has been given to new housing developments.
The county council is a Conservative run authority.
Population: Essex has an estimated population of 1.7million people. The towns have a growing population. The main urban areas of Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester each have populations of over 150,000 people.
Places of Interest: A large and diverse county, Essex is located in the south east of the country and covers 3,649 square kilometres. The unitary authority of Southend on Sea is best known for its world famous pier.
Essex is also near to the coast, meaning that residents of the county needn’t travel far whether in search of sandy beaches or the busy streets of London. A fairly rural county, Essex also boasts a large quantity of Green Belt land and woodland such as Epping Forest and the royal hunting forest in Hatfield.
The county is home to a number of historical attractions including the Kelvedon Hatch Nuclear Bunker and Layer Marney Tower, which is the tallest Tudor gatehouse in Britain. Other attractions include Colchester Castle and Waltham Abbey.
The University of Essex, one of the fastest growing universities in the country.
Situated close to London, it is an ideal county for commuters seeking a quiet suburban respite from the pressures of city work.
House/Flat Prices: The average property price in Essex today, including houses and flats, is £280,000. The average price five year ago, in February 2004, was £180,000.
Planning issues: The University of Essex has announced that it will spend £250m redeveloping its three main campuses in the next five to seven years. The plan, which is underpinned by a £100m loan, will include 30 different projects. These will include an extension to the Colchester campus’s library and a £25m student centre. There will be a significant investment in the Southend campus, including the erection of new student accommodation. It is hoped that the investment will improve the student experience at the main campus in Colchester while drawing more students to the new campus in Southend.