News in Maldon

A debate on a pledge to establish a new food bank at Maldon District Council's offices and an undetermined location in Burnham-on-Crouch lasted an hour at a meeting last night (Thursday, 18 March) – and ended with one councillor abruptly leaving the virtual chamber once the vote had been cast.

Councillor Chrisy Morris put forward the food bank motion in advance of the full council meeting, initially seconded by Councillor Vanessa Bell.

Maldon District Council (MDC) is carrying out a 'Call for Sites' exercise where they ask for suggestions of land that could be suitable for development.

The exercise is a necessary part of the review of the Local Development Plan (LDP) and an associated piece of work called a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA).

A day of reflection and remembrance is planned in Maldon town to mark the anniversary of the first national lockdown.

A minute's silence at and a doorstep vigil will take place at midday and the Moot Hall will be illuminated in the evening on Tuesday, 23 March.

Sail due east of Essex and you reach Holland. If we see similarities between Essex's coast of creeks and saltmarshes and the Dutch coast criss-crossed with estuaries and sea defences, it's no surprise – they were once joined as a single entity by the mysterious Doggerland, flooded in about 6,200 B.C.

Small wonder then that the expertise of Dutch engineers has been much in demand through our history. Other links, including trade and religion, have left many traces of our Dutch allies through our county.

A huge marquee erected in Promenade Park has been put up ahead of the filming of scenes for the TV adaptation of Sarah Perry's 'The Essex Serpent'.

It is understood that some scenes will be filmed in the Prom and Hythe Quay areas, as well as in some street locations around Maldon.

The public health director for Essex has said he is concerned for the hundreds of people who have missed receiving a Covid-19 jab.

Dr Mike Gogarty said that to date, no districts have a higher Covid infection rate than the average in England – the highest being 56 per 100,000. The lowest is Maldon at just nine per 100,000.

Essex Marine Police were worried when they spotted this rather wonky-looking load as they headed out to their patrols around Maldon district yesterday (Wednesday, 17 March).

Officers from the force's Marine Unit, based at Burnham-on-Crouch, shared the picture on Twitter after stopping the driver and arranging safer transport.

Children across the district who have free school meals will be getting vouchers again over the coming Easter holidays.

Essex County Council (ECC) has confirmed that the meals voucher system will be in place during the Easter break, allowing parents and young people to use them to shop and select their own food.

A landmark Grade II listed building built by historic Heybridge-based company E H Bentall and Co. is up for auction on 25 March.

The heritage building was built as a warehouse for the renowned agricultural equipment firm in 1863 and sits gracefully at the side of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, now converted to offices.

Police who issued an appeal to the public to identify a person in connection with an alleged incident at Fambridge Yacht Club in which an assault was reported have withdrawn it.

The incident was alleged to have happened at 4.20pm on Sunday, 6 March but police no longer wish to speak to a person identified in a picture at the club.