“DEATH-TRAP” e-scooters could be banned from almost all of an Essex borough, as councillors team up to crack down on vehicles.
Councillors from across the five towns which make up the Basildon borough will team up to deal with the issue after various incidents, including “some quite serious injuries.”
It comes after two children were killed in an e-scooter crash in Pitsea in February, which sparked anger and concern from across the community. It also saw improvements to the road, lighting and footpaths.
Basildon Borough Council’s environment and enforcement scrutiny committee discussed the plans on November 25. Labour Pitsea councillor Pat Reid said: “When I was coming to this meeting, somebody went straight across Broadmayne in front of me on a scooter. Luckily, the car behind me wasn’t too close because I almost had to make an emergency stop. I think this is the danger. We’ve already had two children in Pitsea who were knocked down; something definitely has to be done. We can’t continue in the way we are.”
Earlier this year, the council agreed to discontinue the use of electric vehicles in Basildon Town Centre, following a trial conducted in collaboration with Essex County Council. The trial had been held since 2020, but Basildon councillors agreed to stop the use of scooters due to riders “causing carnage”.
Fellow Labour Pitsea councillor Ben Westwick raised concerns about the use of e-scooters in Pitsea Town Centre and the impact on pedestrians. He told the meeting: “I think they need to be banned mainly for Pitsea Town Centre, it gets really bad, especially during the markets when there are more pedestrians. It’s an absolute nightmare and accident waiting to happen.”
The meeting heard how, in August 2025, the council issued five fines for e-scooters in Basildon Town Centre. In September this rose to 17 fines and 12 e-scooters were seized then from October to mid November a total of 25 were seized and two fined were issued.
