Services

Emergency Services

AMBULANCE - Cover is provided by East of England Ambulance Service. The nearest Station is at Shoeburyness (2 miles) and provides ambulances and paramedic cars. This is supported by the Station at Southend. All medical and accident emergencies should be reported by dialling 999. The Ambulance service has at their disposal organisations such as First Responders which may be deployed as necessary. 

FIRE - Cover is provided by the Essex Fire and Rescue Service and is available at all times by dialling 999 in an emergency. The nearest retained Station is at Shoeburyness (2 miles). This is supported by a full time station at Southend (4 miles) and a further retained station at Rochford. Advice regarding fire prevention and smoke alarms and other related matters may be obtained from Fire Stations or by dialling 01702 614433. 

POLICE - In keeping with most of Essex, Great Wakering has no Police Station or Police Office open to the public. Beat Constables and Police Support Officers work from Rochford and cover Great Wakering on a daily basis. Motor Patrols and others are on hand to patrol and answer calls as necessary. Police should be called in emergency by dialling 999 or for non emergencies by dialling 101. The nearest staffed Police Station is at Southend and is open from 8am until 12 midnight daily, at other times there is a dedicated telephone to police headquarters available outside all Police Stations.  Further information on local community police services can be found by clicking here.

SEA, RIVER and CREEK RESCUES (Relevant to Great Wakering) - Is controlled by HM Coastguard who have a Coast Rescue and Search company of volunteers at Shoeburyness. Calls to report emergencies should be made via 999. Other enquiries can be made by telephone to 01255 675518. HM Coastguard is also responsible for calling and controlling RNLI lifeboats. We are very well served in his respect with two boats at Southend plus a hovercraft and another boat at Burnham on Crouch. The RNLI will also help with inland water and flood rescues. 

UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE (BOMBS AND SHELLS) - Very relevant to this area- If found DO NOT TOUCH, report immediately by 999 to Police if on land or to the Coastguard if on the mud or sands.

Other Services

BUSES - The bus services to and from great Wakering are operated by Arriva and Stephensons and appear to be well run, the buses are clean, modern (some have lowering floors for easy access). In general they seem to be sufficiently frequent to cater for the needs of the Parish. See display boards for time tables.  

There are separate private free bus services operated by ASDA the nearest Supermarket to take shoppers to and from the Supermarket (For details contact ASDA).

A bone of contention is always late night buses, these are operated on a commercial basis and to be retained have to show a profit or at least break even (sometimes with a subsidy). The two late buses to Great Wakering from Monday to Saturday are:

No7 travels from Rayleigh to Southend Travel Centre arriving at 10.34 pm and leaving for Great Wakering at 10.37pm.

A further bus leaves Southend Travel Centre for Great Wakering at 11.37pm.

To keep these services they must be used. It is a case of 'use them or lose them'. 

HELP FOR OLDER PEOPLE - Helping Hands and the Village Memorial Hall help in many ways, they have a mini-bus to transport people to and from events, organise home cooked meals at the Village Memorial Hall on Tuesdays (Helping Hands) and on Thursdays (Village Memorial Hall) lunchtimes and generally give help and advice where necessary, Messages can be left for Helping Hands on 219036, please be clear and leave an address. The WRVS also run meals on wheels service for residents of Great Wakering. Age Concern (Age UK) can be contacted on 0800 009966. 

MEDICAL SERVICES - Great Wakering is served by a modern Medical Centre which at present caters for seven Doctors, practice nurses, blood sampling facilities and its own pharmacy which can cater for patients living more than a mile from the surgery. The centre has the capability to take more patients and has visiting scanning and other test facilities. The practice would look at appropriate business proposals from a dental business, should an interest be expressed. The centre can offer help and advice on many subjects such as care for the elderly, social services and stop smoking.