News in Maldon

The owners of Crouch Ridge Vineyard have a wait of up to five working days to find out whether they can extend their opening hours after a licensing meeting heard arguments for and against the plans.

The vineyard has applied to extend its wine barn license to allow sales and drinking of the produce on the premises up to 11pm each day. The venue in Althorne hopes to hold wine-tasting and wine and food pairing evenings.

Businesses looking for an attractive 2021 venue for events and attractions are being invited to apply for opportunities at Maldon's Promenade Park, Hythe Quay and Riverside Park in Burnham-on-Crouch.

Applications to put on events or attractions are also being invited for any other district open spaces - and "something different" could be a good thing.

District councillors have voted to give the green light to the creation of a new wetland habitat for wildfowl and waders at a nature reserve close to the River Crouch.

Maldon Nub News reported last week how Essex Wildlife Trust, which owns Blue House Farm nature reserve, east of North Fambridge, had submitted project plans to Maldon District Council for the 20-hectare area, currently grassland.

Essex Police have played down what appears to be a growing concern among dog owners in the region over the theft of their pets.

The force spoke out yesterday (Wednesday, 10 March) after seeing social media sites across the county report a rise in the number of incidents - and only last week a dog was snatched from its home, though, in the end there was a happy ending.

A drift of more than 2,000 purple crocuses have been planted by members of Maldon Rotary Club and Maldon in Bloom volunteers to remind visitors to Promenade Park of Rotary's commitment to the eradication of the Polio virus.

Polio has been all but eliminated worldwide thanks to a 30-year programme of immunisation initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and supported every step of the way by Rotarians.

Maldon district has the lowest smoke alarm ownership in Essex, research carried out by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) has found - and firefighters are urging residents who do not have one on every level of their home to claim them for free.

ECFRS carried out a survey across Essex to find out how many people had working smoke alarms.

Could empty and neglected buildings across Maldon, Burnham and the villages of the Dengie Peninsula have a new future as community-owned spaces – run for the benefit of local people?

Here Nub News takes a closer look at a new fund that could make some of those dreams a reality as the community emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Plans for a new wooden kiosk selling refreshments at Promenade Park's Pirate Bay Adventure Golf course have been given the thumbs-down by Maldon Town Council.

Members of the town council's Planning Committee last night (Monday, 8 March) voted to recommend that the proposal for the kiosk is refused. The final decision on the application will be made by Maldon District Council in due course, with the town council's views noted.

Essex County Council has announced that secondary school places at Ormiston Rivers Academy and William de Ferrers Academy will be increased this September to accommodate those Dengie children who were offered places as far away as Brightlingsea last week.

In a statement issued by Essex County Council today (Tuesday, 9 March) a spokesperson said: "Essex County Council is aware that a number of pupils who live the Dengie peninsula and surrounding areas were allocated a school place some distance from their home. The reason for this was due to a number of factors, but we are pleased to announce that both Ormiston Rivers Academy and William de Ferrers have agreed to offer additional places.

In his latest column, Chairman of Maldon District Council, Independent Councillor Mark Heard, talks about who helps keep an eye on the council's ethics and value for money - and how.

"When it comes to the ethics and probity of Maldon District Council, who keeps an eye on things to make sure it demonstrates good value for public money, and is efficient and effective as a public organisation?