News in Maldon

WITH most public firework displays cancelled this year – including the Maldon display at Promenade Park – Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has said it is "preparing for a busier night than usual".

The service is concerned that as more people turn to using fireworks in their own back gardens, accidents could increase.

THE leader of Maldon District Council (MDC) has spoken out to reassure the public that both members and officers are working to support the community.

In an open letter sent to all local press and posted on the council website, council leader, Conservative Councillor Elaine Bamford, says that with the support of the community, the council will "turn the tide on recent negative publicity".

MALDON district now has a Covid-19 current infection rate of 49.3 confirmed cases per 100,000 population – close to trebled in around two weeks.

And Essex is less than a month away from the level of infection currently seen in the worst hit places if action is not taken now, the director of public health in the county has warned.

Liberal Democrats have reiterated calls for Essex to manage track and trace in-house as the county bids to go into Tier 2 restrictive measures.

David Finch, Essex County Council leader, said he took on board the points that Lib Dem group leader Mike Mackrory was making – that councils in England are best placed to track and trace Covid-infected people amidst reports from the The Local Government Association that councils have a 97 per cent success rate at finding close contacts, while the NHS test and trace is 67 per cent effective.

Essex County Council (ECC) has said it will resist an "over inflation" of house building which could see Maldon more seriously affected than any other district in the county.

Under new proposed government rules an extra 1,100 new homes could be built in Essex per year.

COUNCILLORS will decide next Wednesday (21 October) whether a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) should be put in place at a sprawling golf club site in a village near Maldon after receiving an objection.

The proposed TPO relates to dozens of trees on The Warren Estate in Woodham Walter. Trees at the site of the Warren Golf Course, including Bunsay Downs and Badgers, Woodham Walter, have been subject to a range of different TPOs since October 2018, when Maldon District Council (MDC) first received reports from members of the public about "inappropriate" works being carried out on the wooded areas there.

BOOKING has opened for Heybridge Swifts half term holiday soccer course.

The course will run for one day at the Heybridge Swifts Stadium in Scraley Road, Heybridge, on Friday, 30 October and places are limited.

MALDON District Council has produced a new set of charts accessible from the landing page of its website to help residents understand exactly what each level of the new 'three tier' restrictions mean.

As Essex waits to hear in the coming days whether or not it will be moved from 'medium' level Tier One restrictions to 'high' level Tier Two rules, following a request to the Government by Essex County Council chiefs to increase restrictions in the county, the new guidance tables have been produced as a way of keeping local people informed through a changing picture.

Basildon & Thurrock Hospital, which yesterday confirmed a number of wards had gone into coronavirus lockdown has today appealed for all non-urgent patients and visitors only to attend the hospital if absolutely necessary.

Following yesterday's announcement, a statement from the hospital today says: "Basildon Hospital is extremely busy today (Tuesday, 13 October) with a high number of patients who need our care, including a small but increasing number of patients suffering from COVID.

A MALDON District councillor has 'crossed the floor' to join the Independent group.

Councillor Richard Siddall – formerly a Conservative member for the Great Totham ward - resigned from the Tory group at the authority last week to become a 'non-aligned Conservative'.