News in Maldon

Those from all over Essex who have enjoyed cruises sailing from Tilbury may be sad to learn that one of the key ships involved is about to be scrapped.

The 55-year-old Marco Polo was the ship around which the Thurrock-based Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) was built, setting the standard for the older, mature market that CMV targeted.

Latest complete data from Public Health England shows that the Covid-19 infection rate for Maldon district has dropped to 326.5 cases per 100,000.

In the seven days leading up to Monday, 25 January there was a total of 212 new cases recorded in the Maldon district.

Maldon District Council is to decide whether to declare a climate emergency, listing a range of local issues including the risk of flooding and air quality.

The issues brought about by new development, including rising levels of pollution, carbon emissions and the need for sustainable transport are also featured in the statement, which sets out the council's aspirations for change.

The air ambulance serving Maldon is using a 'dry fog' of electrolysed saline to make sure all crews and equipment are decontaminated after every trip.

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is taking the additional steps to protect patients and crew members from Covid-19 by decontaminating with specially-prepared water containing salt and electricity which instantly kills 99.99 per cent of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Six new treatment rooms and an emergency care surgical unit have been created at Broomfield Hospital in a bid to help tackle pressures on A&E caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A new chemotherapy treatment area is also being installed to allow the hospital to see more cancer patients whilst keeping them safely distanced.

There are plans afoot which could make travel from Maldon into Chelmsford easier, smoother - and more environmentally friendly.

Plans to expand Sandon Park and Ride are being developed as part of Essex County Council's strategy to improve travel into and out of Chelmsford.

Maldon district councillors have voted to recommend a 50 per cent reduction in wharfage fees for the Thames sailing barges at Hythe Quay for the 2021/22 financial year.

The proposal will now need to be ratified by the full council. However, the move was not supported by all councillors at the meeting of Maldon District Council's Strategy and Resources Committee tonight (Thursday, 28 January) with six councillors voting for the reduction and four abstaining.

A proposed 4.98 per cent increase in the council tax precept for Essex Police would fund 184 more officers, the police, fire and crime commissioner has said.

The news comes as the commissioner outlines the budget proposals for 2021/22. The rise would mean an extra £9.90 a year for a Band D property, taking the total to £208.53 per year for the police precept.

Latest figures show that 2020 saw the number of Maldon district residents claiming unemployment benefit almost treble.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in December, 2019 there were 620 people claiming unemployment benefit in Maldon district. In December 2020 that rose to 1,800 people – an increase of 1,180.

The number of people with Covid-19 but showing no symptoms is "much much higher" than the government's estimate, the director of public health for Essex has said.

The estimation from Dr Mike Gogarty that the number of asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 is higher than the assumed rate of one in three, raises serious questions over the level of inadvertent transmission by those who have no idea that they are carrying coronavirus.