Message for Essex Women

A message for Essex Women as bars and pubs reopen

No one should feel unsafe on a night out in our town centres is a recent message from the County Council and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner as Essex County Council and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex (PFCC) are renewing their commitment to women’s safety. Their message is that they are listening, understanding and committing to creating an environment where women feel safe.

The feelings experienced by many women were highlighted following the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021, exposing the fears that many women experience and sparking an important debate about women’s safety. In Essex, Essex County Council pledged £500,000 to fund a Safety Advisory Group which launched in April 2021. The group, led by Council Deputy Leader Cllr Louise McKinlay aims to encourage meaningful engagement with Essex women and spark a countywide conversation about the issues and fears faced by many women on a daily basis. The group will talk to partners, residents and council officials to ensure everyone is working together to tackle safety concerns, in particular those of female residents. The PFCC and county council have reassured women across the county that Essex is a safe place, with the police, local community safety partnerships, volunteers such as the street pastors, and SOS buses all working to make town centres safe environments. Cllr Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance, said: “No woman should feel fearful on an evening out. Everyone should be able to enjoy a pub, bar or restaurant and travelling to and from them without feeling anxious about safety.

“This is the reason we set up our Safety Advisory Group, to explore the issues around women’s safety, and work with partners and residents to achieve positive change. “It is also important that consideration is given to how actions can be perceived by women who may be feeling anxious or vulnerable. Even something completely innocent might make a lone female feel frightened, so something simple like walking a few more paces behind or crossing the road will make a big difference.

“There are also some really simple precautions we can all take to make ourselves safer like making sure our phones are fully charged, sticking with a friend when walking and if drinking making sure you don’t leave your drink unattended, Essex Police also have some excellent advice on their website”

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Over the past year we have all been looking out for each other and we have been following the #StaySafeEssex message. Let’s make sure we continue to do that as we enjoy meeting up with friends indoors this weekend as our night-time economy reopens. ” "If you are planning on going out this weekend make sure you look after each other, know how you are getting home, drink sensibly and continue with the incredible community spirit that everybody has shown over the last year. Let’s take this next step safely together.”

Vulnerable people in Essex are being targeted by County Lines drug gangs who take over their homes and use them as bases for drug dealing. The tactic, known as cuckooing, sees the gang manipulate people to gain access to their properties; often specifically targeting those with drug and alcohol addictions, financial problems and learning difficulties.

The groups have also been known to target vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and young mothers, often befriending their victims by offering free gifts, protection or drugs. However, these gifts and friendship comes at a price as gang members will then move into the victim’s home and use it to facilitate crime and exploitation, including storing, converting or dealing drugs. Victims find themselves trapped, threatened by the gang, and unable to see a way out. In some cases, they have abandoned their homes entirely and ended up living on the streets. The Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit wants to raise awareness of cuckooing amongst the public and front-line workers and in the past year has provided training to more than 450 police and partner agency employees to recognise the signs of cuckooing. This month, the Essex VVU is launching Operation Trespass. This will see 50,000 leaflets and posters go out to community partners, police stations and to victims of cuckooing and their neighbours. The material will describe the signs of cuckooing and tell people who to go to for help. Spotting the signs that cuckooing is taking place is one way that the public can look out for their neighbours and help stop this criminal activity. “Every case is slightly different, but we’d look for people who you wouldn’t expect to see at the premises,” said DCI White, when explaining what the signs are. “Are there more people staying there than there should be? Is the property a mess? Is the owner guarded and fearful when talking? Are they not keeping appointments or letting other people into their house?” “You might go to an old person’s house and see things that seem out of place; trainers, Coke cans and McDonald’s wrappers. There might also be signs of drug use, signs of money and phones. Often, the gang members are 15 or 16-year-olds but it’s the people behind them that are the problem if you don’t let them stay – it’s the implied threat.” “People with learning difficulties have come to us for help and struggled to express what is happening but they’re scared, they don’t want to go back to their house and are living on the beach because their house has been taken over by drug dealers.”

Remembering Brian Hudspeth

Before the formal business commenced at a recent Annual Council Meeting held by Epping Forest District Council on 25th May, members observed a minute’s silence in respect of former chairman Brian Hudspeth who died recently. Cllr Hudspeth, member for North Weald, was chairman in 1991/92 … the year of the opening of the current Civic Offices. Cllrs Murray and Morgan paid tribute to the man they described as “a wonderful ambassador for the district and a dedicated local councillor.”

£600,000 has been allocated to progress detailed designs and further site survey works as councillors provided authority to the Environment and Technical Portfolio Holder to agree terms with Places Leisure for the construction of the new Epping Leisure Centre in Bakers Lane. Places Leisure recently built Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre on behalf of the council and manages the council’s other leisure centres across the district. Under the proposed agreement, Places Leisure will design, build, operate and maintain the new centre in partnership with the council.

Recycle your clothing

The Fire Fighters Charity raises over £600,000 every year from their clothing recycling scheme. With the help of your donations they hope to continue to increase this figure. The Charity has run a successful clothing recycling scheme since 2008, in partnership with fire and rescue services and textile recycling companies across the UK, which today raises over £600,000 a year for the Charity.

What you can donate: Clothes Banks

• Adult and children’s clothing • Socks • Coats • Underwear • Paired shoes • Handbags • Linen Please NO bric-a-brac, plastic, toys or electrical items please. Stolen Car Crash The nearest one is outside the Fire Station in Epping. Recently a stolen car careered off the High Road in Thornwood and ended up in the paddock (ex- allotments) between Forest Cottage and Woodside at about 4.00am.

There were 5 people onboard, although two fled the scene and the other three were arrested and taken to hospital. The road was closed for most of the day.

St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood hosted its rescheduled annual (not so wintry) Winter Walkies fundraiser on Sunday 23rd May 2021, over 160 local people and their pups attended to raise funds to support the charity. Winter Walkies is a canineinspired, charity fundraising event normally held every February at the Hospice in Hastingwood (CM17 9JX). Participants take part in a 5k, sponsored dog-walk through the surrounding Essex countryside, courtesy of the local Paris Hill Farm who each year offer their picturesque fields and farmland for walkers to enjoy. Over 160 walkers and their dogs took part in the 5k sponsored dog-walk through the surrounding Essex countryside, courtesy of the local Paris Hill Farm who each year offer their picturesque fields and farmland for walkers to enjoy. It is estimated that over £4,000 has been raised in vital funds for St Clare Hospice. That could be enough to fund over 80 home visits from a Hospice at Home nursing assistant to provide vital care and emotional support to a person with a life-limiting illness, in the comfort of their own home. Events and Challenges Fundraiser at St Clare, Dani De’ath, said, “We were delighted to hold our annual Winter Walkies event at last, after having to postpone due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The weather wasn’t quite as spring-like as we had hoped, but the turnout was still great, which shows just how much of a favourite this annual event is! We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone (and their furry friends) who came along and helped to generate thousands of pounds for our hospice care. Winter Walkies is such a fun way to support a local charity, who needs your support more than ever as we recover from the impact of Coronavirus on our fundraising income. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together, safely, with friends after such a long time apart, and to enjoy a country walk with hundreds of gorgeous pups!” “As the social contact restrictions continue to lift, we will be hosting lots more events throughout the year to help raise vital funding for St Clare Hospice. So if you’re looking to get some familyfun dates in the diary for 2021, then head over to our website where you’ll find all kinds of events coming up!”

Carers week

Carers Week will be celebrated this year during 7th—13th June. This is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. This year we are coming together to Make Caring Visible and Valued. The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to provide support for carers, run activities, highlight the vital role carers play in our communities and draw attention to just how important caring is. You can find more out at www.carersweek.org

Specialising in plastering, external rendering and K rend

County council election results

Please find the results from the County Council election held on Thursday 6th May 2021. The wards listed below are for the Epping Forest district only. Essex County Council ward Buckhurst Hill and Loughton South –Marshall Vance (Conservative) electViolin for Saleed Chigwell and Loughton Broadway –Lee Scott (Conservative) elected Epping and Theydon Bois – Holly Whitbread (Conservative) elected Loughton Central – Chris Pond (Loughton Residents Association) elected North Weald and Nazeing – Chris Whitbread (Conservative) elected Ongar and Rural – Jaymey McIvor (Conservative) elected

Waltham Abbey – Sam Kane (Conservative) elected

Covid-19 impacted plans for the Epping Forest District Council’s popular Civic Awards 2021 presentations. Instead of the usual ceremony at the Marriot, Waltham Abbey they presented our awards in a Covid secure manner. The Citizen of the Year Award recognises just some of the Epping Forest people who go the extra mile to support their communities. Lisa Skingsley was the winner of this award – she was instrumental in starting a very successful Neighbourhood Watch but in the past year she’s been working tirelessly supporting her local community during Covid. Sonia Lard – was highly commended - Putting others first is a key part of Sonia’s life. Sonia who lives in Loughton is a single parent with a job, yet she still finds time to work with her local community, and more widely, supporting all sorts of people from NHS workers, families in need, key workers and vulnerable children in school. Julie Bristow – received the certificate of commendation - Befriending lonely and isolated people in our community has never been more important. Julie Bristow, from North Weald has been the Befriending Coordinator at VAEF (Voluntary Action Epping Forest) for over 10 years, running three social clubs for over 100 elderly people from North Weald, Loughton and Waltham Abbey. The Young Citizen of the Year Award is a highly prized award and this year we have a number of award winners Winner of Young Citizen of the Year for 2021 was Patsy Stow was the winner of Winner of Young Citizen of the year 2021 –Patsy is a young carer for both her parents, Patsy Stow, 17 from Loughton and she had to support them through Covid. Yet Patsy not only remains an outstanding pupil at Roding Valley High School but is also an outstanding supporter of her fellow students. To receive Highly Commended Certificates, we have 4 young people: Megan Wilson was one of 4 young people who received the Highly Commended certificate. Megan is a Davenant Foundation School student from North Weald, she works at a care home in Waltham Abbey, for people living with dementia. During the pandemic, Megan and her mum – who also works at the care home – moved in to live with the residents to keep them safe.

Volunteer Team of the Year 2021 was awarded to St Clare Hospice Bereavement volunteers and Highly Commended award went to Foodbank Volunteers.

STEAM RETURNS TO THE EOR

The Epping Ongar Railway, your local railway, is delighted to announce that steam hauled* services will be back for our Mother’s Day Dining Trains on 4th July. There will be a choice of three dining options – brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. Full details can be found under Events at www.eorailway.co.uk Advance booking is essential. Looking ahead to September we are planning a Steam Gala for 10, 11 and 12th of the month. Details will be announced later, keep an eye on our web-site for updates. You could also sign-up for our regular Newsletter by visiting our Home page and completing the link. The Steam Gala will be followed by a Murder Mystery Evening – ‘Murder in the Dark’, on the 18th and then by a Diesel Gala over the final weekend of the month. Over recent weeks our Volunteers have been busy preparing the Railway to welcome our loyal visitors back to the site. In addition to our regular weekday work gangs, special Saturday gangs have been engaged in tidying up, painting fences, gardening and carrying out minor repairs. We are grateful for their commitment and support.

If you would like to help on the Railway, during weekdays or on operating days please contact membership@eorailway.co.uk Adult membership costs just £20 per year and that includes four copies of our 44-page magazine, Mixed Traffic, which is packed with interesting railway related articles. We look forward to hearing from you. Robert Good, Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society *Subject to availability

A Saturday work group with Dean Walton, our General Manager (in the centre wearing the cap) at North Weald Photo: Jon Hunting

IMPORTANT Defibrillators

Recently I understand defibrillators from both Thornwood and North Weald have been needed to help people who have become unwell whilst awaiting emergency services. So to ensure all residents are aware of the location of our defibrillators, here are the details. Once you ring emergency services to inform them of someone needing emergency assistance, they will give you the code required to access the defibrillator looked in coded cabinets.

North Weald:- Outside the Methodist Church Hall. Thornwood—Outside the Parish Hall.

Welcome to the Solitary Bee Hotel

Epping Forest Countrycare have recently installed a Solitary Bee Hotel in Roughtallys Wood. It does simply look like a pole with holes in it but it has a very important role and provides an incredibly valuable habitat to solitary bees and provides a safe environment for laying of eggs

Don’t forget to visit the website:

www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk Or sign up to the Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/ Northwealdvillagelife Also on Instagram and Twitter