News in Maldon

Non-urgent operations at Broomfield Hospital are reported to have been halted as Covid-19 has put increasing pressure on its capacity to cope.

Broomfield, together with Basildon & Thurrock and Southend Hospital are run by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Maldon District Council has voted tonight (Thursday, 17 December) to send a letter to key government figures in support of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) currently being developed by Rolls Royce – indicating a potential alternative to the proposed new plant at Bradwell B.

Maldon District Council's Bradwell B Working Party, a group of councillors whose task has been to feed back to the wider council on the proposed new nuclear plant, has come up with the idea of sending the letter to Maldon MP John Whittingdale and Stephen Speed, Director of Nuclear at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Heybridge Community Christmas Wish Tree event planned for Sunday (20 December) has been cancelled due to the new Tier 3 restrictions – but the parish council that organised it still has plenty of festive cheer in the bag.

There was great excitement when the large tree arrived at Plantation Hall, Heybridge, ready for the event where local children would have helped decorate the tree before Santa arrived.

Maldon High Street will continue with late-evening opening today (Thursday, 17 December) - and now it's more important than ever to support the town's businesses with safe shopping.

Although hospitality venues will be closed to diners and offering take-away services only, due to the new Tier 3 restrictions, other retail will continue as usual and are bursting with Christmas gifts and goodies to see shoppers through the festive season.

The families of 35,000 children and young people across the county will have £30 per child to spend on food over the two-week Christmas holiday after Essex County Council launched a free school meals scheme.

Vouchers are being sent out to parents of eligible children throughout the county area - including the Maldon district - and to qualifying young people this week.

A woman was injured at Bicknacre this afternoon after her car was involved in a crash with a tractor.

Firefighters were called to the accident on Main Road, Bicknacre shortly after 2pm.

A Government Planning Inspector visited the proposed site for the Bradwell B new nuclear power station this morning (Wednesday, 16 December) at 10am.

Protest artwork highlighting the memory of the airmen who died after flying from the former World War Two airfield at the site was set up at the nearby war memorial yesterday afternoon, ahead of the inspector's visit.

Essex's crime chief has said the force requires hundreds more officers to do the job he wants it to.

Crime commissioner Roger Hirst was speaking in light of the announcement that Essex will receive central funding for another 127 officers for 2021/22 – well short of the 235 officers Essex Police says it needs to do everything it wants.

The leader of Maldon District Council has spoken of her disappointment at the "great blow" to local businesses that comes with the district's move to Tier 3.

Councillor Wendy Stamp, Leader of Maldon District Council, said: "I am extremely disappointed that the District has now been placed into Tier 3, but we have to follow the advice we have been given by the Government as the numbers are still increasing.

A new regional testing site for Maldon district and the surrounding areas will be opened at Sandon Park and Ride over the coming days.

The site will a drive-through testing site and will offer both assisted and self-administered tests.