Safe driving in rain

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is warning drivers to take extra care on the roads following forecasted heavy rain in Essex.

Jim Palmer, Assistant Director, Head of Prevention and Protection warns drivers to be aware of how dangerous it is when driving in heavy rain and they have provided some safety advice.

Driving during heavy rain

Allow extra time for your journey as you may need to find an alternative route if the roads are flooded/closed Don’t use cruise control in wet weather, the chance of losing control increases. To prevent loss of traction the driver may need to lift off the accelerator and reduce speed. This cannot be achieved if cruise control is engaged

Turn your headlights on to increase your visibility Give yourself the best chance of being able to see clearly in wet weather by renewing windscreen wipers if worn or damaged Stopping distances are greatly increased when the roads are wet, so make sure you increase the distance between you and the car in front. Do not brake suddenly If you come across a flooded road, simply do not take the risk. You can not know exactly how deep the flooded area is, and what the condition of the roads is under the water. You will not only ruin your car, but you'll put yourself in danger too. Stay safe on the roads.

Source: Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

Pub to receive best floral display award

Epping Town Council's Rosebowl award for the best floral display at business premises in the Parish is to be presented to The Black Lion pub. Well done to them.

No objection to rugby club's plans

Plans to improve facilities at Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Club with a new all-weather pitch and function room - and an enabling development of nine houses - have met with no objection from North Weald Bassett Parish Council. The club, in Upland Road, Thornwood, also wants to relocate its floodlights, demolish its old clubhouse and provide additional parking. The properties - three semi-detached houses and a terrace of three houses - would be built on a previously-used overflow car park.

Each property would have off-street parking and a rear private garden. Club chairman Paul Donnelly, speaking at a recent parish council planning committee meeting, described the club as "the largest sports club in Epping Forest". He told the meeting: "We are a very open environment club. We support the community. We've been shut since March 14 however other sports have been able to go back in. "We set up a COVID-19 testing station last week. Epping Town Football Club could not train pre-season so they've been training free of charge, Epping Youth the same. "Active Essex are running six weeks of activities for children and last week they had on average 58 children a day. "There is no sign of rugby coming back at the moment (because of the COVID-19 situation) but we can still make these facilities available." Mr Donnelly added: "You can see what we are doing for the community. This would give us the finances to thrive not just to survive. We need this facility and so does the community." He said there would be 218 parking spaces under the "new regime" compared to the current 98 spaces. Parish council clerk Sue de Luca reported the objections received from three residents which expressed concerns over issues such as the impact on the street scene, concerns over the "urbanisation" of the area and the appropriateness of the development in the Green Belt. Other issues highlighted were the floodlights, car park, traffic speed and concerns over wildlife, damage to flora and fauna, the loss of hedgerow and the function hall use.

Councillor Sheila Jackman said: "It is a community facility and they do seem to be doing a lot of work with young people in the community that isn't just rugby."

Specialising in plastering, external rendering and K rend

Councillor Dick Spearman said: "If anyone was doing this now - 17 houses - any developer would have to do 40 per cent 'affordable' housing. Doing it this way (through two applications) doesn't look good."

Many people know about or have taken part in the Race for Life event that takes place every year raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK. Usually this event takes place locally on the Airfield in July and over the years I have joined many women (and now men) in taking part. I think I have taken part at least 8 times.

This year, event plans aren’t quite the same and vital cancer research has been delayed this year. So Race for Life is being done differently in 2020. On Saturday 26 th September, a Very 2020 Race for Life 5k event is being planned and many are joining in the race for life-saving research. This year you can take part wherever you want, whether it’s from your local park or your back garden, on your own or with your social bubble.

Nothing’s going to stop us running, walking and jogging to raise money, and help beat cancer. So I have signed up along with my daughter to do the Race for Life, walking 5k in our lovely forest. As you know I lost my mum to breast cancer last year so this cause is very close to my hear. If you would like to sponsor us, you can do this at:- https:// fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/junes-very-2020-racefor-life-5

The Local Company You Can Really Trust!

We specialise in the repairs to all makes of windows and doors

Broken Down/Misted Sealed Units Replaced Locks/Hinges Renewed

Conservatories Cleaned/Repaired Cat & Dog Flaps Fitted Front Door Panels Renewed Handles Replaced Letter Plates Replaced Guttering Replaced/Cleaned Full Maintenance of UPVC & Aluminium

A Complete Service To All Windows & Doors

FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE CALL FREEPHONE 0800 917 2794 Or VISIT US AT www.homeglazingrepairservice.co.uk

Town council committee secretary to retire

Epping Town Council committee secretary Doreen Kennedy is retiring at the end of August after 17-and-a-half years service to the council.

Mrs Kennedy, who has worked under four town clerks, has handled the administration for planning applications being considered by the council and planning committee meetings as well as managing the mayor's diary and working on the council's minutes.

Town clerk Beverley Rumsey told the Town council meeting held on 13th August that: "Doreen has been an excellent team player and support to her colleagues over the years. She will be very much missed by us all."

Wish somebody a happy birthday, or announce a birth, death, marriage, or special anniversary

Just send these to me via

email - June@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

St Clare Hospice is inviting members of the local community to attend their second annual Walking in Memory event, which will take place at the Hospice in Hastingwood on Sunday 20 th September. This year’s event will have additional safety measures in place due to the Covid-19 outbreak to ensure the fundraiser can go ahead safely and adhering to all current government guidelines. This includes having three staggered start times of 10am, 11am and 12noon with a maximum of 100 people at each time slot to allow social distancing. Sarah Thompson, St Clare Hospice CEO, said: “Walking in Memory is a very special event for the whole family to take part in and is a thoughtful way to honour those who we love and miss by coming together with others who understand. This year, more than ever, we know our community needs an uplifting event like this and a special way to remember those we have lost –whether during the coronavirus outbreak or before. Many people have struggled with bereavement on their own whilst in isolation, and as the lockdown measures begin to lift, this is a special way to make up for that lost time and to grieve.” Walking in Memory is St Clare’s flagship fundraising event of the year and aims to bring together local people and families to take part in a 5k countryside walk to celebrate the lives of those who have died. Starting from St Clare Hospice, the 5k route winds through the beautiful fields and footpaths of the local, Hastingwood countryside, courtesy of Paris Hall Farm. On the day, participants can also expect to receive a complimentary, hand-held windmill that can be personalised in memory of the person they are walking in honour of. St Clare’s ‘top fundraiser’ from last year’s Walking in Memory event was Carley Chitticks who walked in memory of her mum Michelle, who was cared for by the Hospice in 2019. Carley and her family raised an impressive £8,260 in sponsorship. Carley Chitticks commented: “We took part in St Clare’s first-ever Walking in Memory event last year and it was a really special day. We will be taking part again this summer, and encourage everyone who joins us to try and raise as much sponsorship as they possibly can. Anything you raise will help to fund the amazing care St Clare Hospice provides –for local families like ours. You never know when you might need the support of your local hospice, and we cannot imagine what we would have done without it at our time of need.”

Registration for Walking in Memory is now open via stclarehospice.org.uk/ walkinginmemory Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children, or £27.50 for a family of four. Please note: Everyone is welcome to attend the event, but due to the nature of the course it is advised that the landscape is unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. On the day, participants will be asked to arrive no more than 30 minutes before their agreed start time. This is to ensure that each timed group of people is kept separate from the others, to minimise the amount of people coming into contact.

For more information on taking part in Walking in Memory, please contact Emma Broadbent on 01279 773754 or emma.broadbent@stclarehospic e.org.uk

Epping Forest District Council have reported that crime offences for burglary, personal robbery and shoplifting have significantly dropped over the past year. But the COVID-19 lockdown has seen a spike in domestic violence, safeguarding issues and fly-tipping in the Epping Forest district. New figures released by Essex Police show a 34% increase in solved crimes across the district and a 3.5% reduction in crime across the county. The figures cover July 2019 to July 2020 –encompassing lockdown. The Community Resilience team includes 3 Essex Police officers funded by Epping Forest District Council. Based at the Civic Offices in Epping, they have been working flat out on a whole variety of district-based crimes. Cllr Holly Whitbread, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community, said: “COVID-19 has been the catalyst for many of these issues. People being locked down together, at home, not seeing relatives or socialising has caused a ‘pressure cooker’ effect resulting in many of these crimes.” “But our team has been working diligently throughout to keep the district and its residents safe, as the burglary, robbery and shoplifting figures show.” “Similarly, we’ve seen large unauthorised gatherings in the Epping Forest area, mainly of young people.” “The Police, Corporation of London and other agencies are working hard to prevent these gatherings, but we should not be having to put resources into such things. If you feel safe and the precautions don’t apply to you because you are young and healthy, take a moment to think about your mum, your dad or your grandparents. You could catch and pass the disease on without ever showing any symptoms, and the consequences could be devastating for a more vulnerable loved-one.” “Together we are making progress, let’s all work to make sure we keep it going.”

07926987207

Call for a free quotation

Don’t forget to visit the website:

www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk To find out news updates, initiatives or Coronavirus updates Or sign up to the Facebook Group

www.facebook.com/groups/ Northwealdvillagelife Also on Instagram and Twitter