News in Maldon

FOUR Conservative councillors have formed a break away 'Democratic Alliance' group on Maldon District Council.

While the group all remain Conservative Party councillors, they have broken away from the Tory group on the local authority and have now moved from their 'non-aligned' status to form the new alliance.

Everything I thought I wanted to write in this week's reflection on the news in Maldon suddenly evaporated yesterday (Saturday, 31 October) as it became clear that we are about to go back into lockdown.

Just a week ago, the town's independent shops were celebrating the success of Fiver Fest and getting the buzz back to the High Street again.

Without Maldon's iconic Thames Sailing Barges, the historic Hythe Quay would be empty and a priceless heritage asset lost. Hopefully, with the deep affection and loyalty felt by local people and the care of their owners, they will be with us for many generations to come.

From their heyday in the late 19th to early 20th Centuries to their heroic role in World War 2, the sailing barges were a uniquely efficient form of goods transport. They could carry heavy loads, but navigate shallow creeks and estuaries because of their flat bottoms. The latter allowed them to sit flat on the mud at low tide, unlike vessels with keels. Most Thames barges can float in just three feet of water, and a glance at 'Reminder' at low tide, currently sitting on the barge blocks at Cooks Yard, will show just how little hull there is below the waterline. On the other hand, enormous cargoes could be loaded, and old photographs show barges with the water almost up to their decks.

Maldon Nub News aims to be supportive to EVERY element of the community from business and shops to people and charities and clubs and sports organisations.

Everyone is finding it tough at the moment and wants life to get back to normal.

IT'S been another seven days of big news stories in Maldon, from the success of Fiver Fest in the town, through to news that we're all heading into a new national lockdown situation.

Here at Nub News we like to make your life easier so if you've missed any of the local news this week, don't worry.

MALDON District Council is asking residents to mark the two-minutes silence at 11am on Wednesday, 11 November (Remembrance Day) from their doorsteps, to support a national show of pride and appreciation.

Councillor Penny Channer, vice-chairman of the council, said: "The silence on Remembrance Day is one of the most poignant times of the year. It allows us to reflect on the sacrifices made for us by the armed forces. Many people will be thinking of loved ones who never returned.

MALDON residents have been invited to take part in an online public meeting where they can ask questions about how the district is being policed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members of the public can post their questions live to Roger Hirst, the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) during the live Facebook session running from 7pm to 8pm on Monday, 2 November.

A FIRM of German organ builders has thanked the people of Maldon for raising money to repair their vandalised van.

The specialist craftsmen had been in the town to carry out the installation of the beautiful new organ at St Mary's Church in Church Street when their van was targeted by hateful thugs – twice.

A MALDON district councillor has lodged an official complaint about himself, it emerged at the council's 'watchdog' committee yesterday (Tuesday, 27 October).

The extraordinary revelation came at Maldon District Council's (MDC's) Joint Standards Committee as the meeting moved to exclude press and public.

MALDON District Council has called in tree specialists to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with some of the horse chestnut trees in the Prom's iconic Avenue of Remembrance.

It is thought the trees could be suffering from infection by a fungus-like organism called Phytopthera, known to cause bleeding canker in horse chestnuts.