BUDDHIST monks who converted a £700,000 five-bedroom house into a temple now want to build a car park to cater for their growing numbers.

Driving around Basildon, he points out that despite a number of factory closures, there are still success stories in the town. New Holland tractors – a major manufacturer with global exports ...

But normality is also what makes Basildon special, for it is Britain’s most typical place. Basildon is one of 28 new towns created by government planners after the second world war (see map).

But Craig Rimmer, Basildon Council's cabinet member for regeneration, vowed to continue fighting the plans, which allow for nine 21-storey tower blocks. The developers, InfraRed, said the plan ...