News in Maldon

The number of people diagnosed with cancer after a visit to A&E in mid- Essex has rocketed – illuminating the "devastating" impact Covid-19 has had on cancer survival in the county.

With new data showing for the first time that those who have been diagnosed are more likely to have been diagnosed via an emergency presentation, the Government has been urged to ensure that people living with cancer get the care they need.

ESSEX police have appealed to residents of Maldon to help them identify a man they wish to speak to following an incident in the town when another person was threatened and had a car driven at him.

The force has issued a picture of the man they are seeking and said: "We want to speak to him about an incident in which a 38-year-old man was threatened and a Mini Cooper was driven towards him.

Spring has arrived in Maldon's neighbourhood and community gardens, with plenty of cheery daffodils and other flowers to greet passers-by - all thanks to the efforts of playgroup children, neighbours, volunteers and community groups.

A spokesperson for the town's RHS volunteers said: "We would welcome walkers coming to see and enjoy their community gardens.

The live music performance planned for St Mary's Church on Good Friday (2 April) will now begin with half an hour of music from the new organ.

Director of Music at the church in Church Road, Maldon, Colin Baldy, said: "I've had so many people saying what a shame it is that people haven't yet heard the new organ, that we've decided to have half an hour of organ music before the Stabat Mater on Good Friday."

Maldon fire crews rushed to the scene when a bus caught fire in Danbury this afternoon (Friday, 19 March).

The extensive damage to the bus was clear in photographs posted on the Maldon Fire Station Facebook page this evening.

A debate on a pledge to establish a new food bank at Maldon District Council's offices and an undetermined location in Burnham-on-Crouch lasted an hour at a meeting last night (Thursday, 18 March) – and ended with one councillor abruptly leaving the virtual chamber once the vote had been cast.

Councillor Chrisy Morris put forward the food bank motion in advance of the full council meeting, initially seconded by Councillor Vanessa Bell.

Maldon District Council (MDC) is carrying out a 'Call for Sites' exercise where they ask for suggestions of land that could be suitable for development.

The exercise is a necessary part of the review of the Local Development Plan (LDP) and an associated piece of work called a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA).

A day of reflection and remembrance is planned in Maldon town to mark the anniversary of the first national lockdown.

A minute's silence at and a doorstep vigil will take place at midday and the Moot Hall will be illuminated in the evening on Tuesday, 23 March.

Sail due east of Essex and you reach Holland. If we see similarities between Essex's coast of creeks and saltmarshes and the Dutch coast criss-crossed with estuaries and sea defences, it's no surprise – they were once joined as a single entity by the mysterious Doggerland, flooded in about 6,200 B.C.

Small wonder then that the expertise of Dutch engineers has been much in demand through our history. Other links, including trade and religion, have left many traces of our Dutch allies through our county.

A huge marquee erected in Promenade Park has been put up ahead of the filming of scenes for the TV adaptation of Sarah Perry's 'The Essex Serpent'.

It is understood that some scenes will be filmed in the Prom and Hythe Quay areas, as well as in some street locations around Maldon.