News in Maldon

ESSEX Police are urging people to stay away from an unauthorised event planned to take place in Chelmsford tomorrow (Saturday, 24 October).

Those who do attend the illegal event could face enforcement action and heavy fines.

The Ship Inn is offering free hot lunches for children from the Burnham area who need them.

The pub in High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, is providing a collection service for the meals to take away from Tuesday to Friday next week in a move that follows the Government's decision yesterday not to provide free school meals during half term. The pub will cater for up to 100 children each day.

LATEST Covid-19 figures for Essex show that there have been almost six times as many confirmed cases in the 50-plus age group as there were just four weeks ago.

The new data does not include a breakdown to district level for age range, but does include all the cases that have been confirmed in the Maldon district.

OLDER residents of the Maldon district are being urged to get their flu jab as there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases in the over-60s across the Eastern region.

The warning comes from Public Health England (PHE) East today (Friday, 23 October) and follows a "spike" in cases in the elderly population.

THERE is still no interview room in the police base in Maldon more than three years after it was opened at the district council offices in Princes Street, a meeting heard last night (Thursday, 22 October).

In a local police performance update from Chief Inspector Scott-Haines to the Maldon District Council's Crime and Disorder Committee, he told the members how he met a council director two weeks ago to look at a different area in the offices and was hopeful that it would provide a place where the interview room could be established.

THERE has been yet another shift in the political balance of power at Maldon District Council today (Thursday, 22 October) after the two non-aligned Independent councillors joined forces with the Independent group.

Councillors Kevin Lagan and Chrisy Morris sat outside the main Independent group at the authority until now - and their move means that the group now numbers 15 as opposed to the nine members still aligned to the council's Conservative group.

MALDON district's Salvation Army has joined forces with a local radio station to launch a new partnership in the High Street.

Chelmer Radio now has its own space at the town centre's Salvation Army charity shop. The shop will now provide a place where people can actively engage with the radio station, as well as the friendly and helpful shop staff.

PUBS and restaurants across Maldon district could soon be open until midnight again if the Government agrees to a request by county councillors and MPs.

And the Tier 2 'High' level restrictions currently in place in the county could be lifted by 15 December, with the area moving back down to Tier 1 'Medium' level rules – just in time for Christmas – if current Covid-19 infection rates turn in the right direction.

MALDON'S Fiver Fest organisers have come up with a fabulous prize draw offer for the last day of the bargains bonanza.

Every shopper who buys just one Fiver Fest deal at any of the participating businesses in town on Saturday, 24 October, will have their name and phone number put into the draw - where one lucky shopper will win EVERY deal in the shops taking part.

DOZENS of trees at a sprawling golf club site in Essex will now be protected by a new Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

Councillors decided yesterday evening (Wednesday, 21 October) to agree to the imposition of the TPO at The Warren Estate in Woodham Walter.