News in Maldon

A YELLOW weather warning has been issued for the Maldon district area for the weekend – with a high tide likely to cause some flooding at Promenade Park and Hythe Quay on Friday (2 October) as well as Saturday – and possibly Sunday, too.

The Met Office weather warning is for heavy rain and some flooding over the three days – and for Maldon this coincides with the high tide at around lunchtime, between midday and around 2pm each day.

RESIDENTS throughout Maldon district have been reminded that they can take advantage of government grants from yesterday (Wednesday) until March to help make their homes low carbon and more energy efficient.

The Green Homes Grant scheme can provide up to £5,000 per home for improvements such as cavity wall or loft insulation, upgrading windows or replacing old boilers with a heat pump. It has been calculated that these improvements could save the average household as much as £600 per year.

PLANS to build 14 new homes at the site of Winterdale Manor in Althorne have been rejected by Maldon District Council this afternoon (Wednesday, 30 October).

The proposals would have seen the existing six buildings at the site at Burnham Road demolished and the construction of six two-bed, five three-bed and three four-bed houses. The two-bedroomed homes would have been allocated as "affordable housing".

PLANS to convert Maldon town centre's former police station into five flats will be decided by councillors next Wednesday (7 October).

Maldon District Council's Central Area Planning Committee will hear full details of the proposals to build the self-contained apartments with five parking spaces and landscaping. Two of the flats would have their own patio areas.

THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is prosecuting the NHS trust that provides mental health services for the Maldon district area.

The HSE has announced that it is to prosecute Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUFT) over management of the risks posed by "fixed potential ligature points" in its inpatient wards between 25 October, 2004, and 31 March, 2015. Such points could provide possible places for patients to attempt suicide through hanging.

AS Essex County Council faces around £90million extra costs due to the pandemic in this year alone, residents in every district are being asked which services should be prioritised in a budget consultation with the public. Maldon Nub News takes a closer look at some of the services the county provides for the town and district – and how residents can make their views known on issues likely to affect their everyday lives

In a statement released yesterday (Tuesday, 29 September), the leader of Essex County Council (ECC), Councillor David Finch, said: "We are facing some big decisions over the coming months.

CONFIRMED cases of Covid-19 in the Maldon district have risen in the last two days to take the area above the average infection rate for Essex.

However, it is important to note that the district rates still remain well below any of the areas of the country currently highlighted as of particular concern - and Essex County Council has said that the Maldon figures currently give no special reason for extra concern.

MALDON district residents should be aware of a telephone scam callers claiming to be from the NHS Test and Trace service are calling unsuspecting residents asking for payment for tests.

Essex Trading Standards today (Tuesday, 29 September) released a statement to tell residents that the Test and Trace service would not ask for payment under any circumstances.

MALDON Town Council is to thrash out a new policy on use of its allotments - after a problem with some holders using the growing space to park their cars.

At a meeting of the council's environment committee yesterday (Monday, 28 September) evening, members heard that the issue meant some plots would not be suitable for growing fruit and vegetables afterwards due to potential pollution of the soil from any fuel and other liquids that could leak from the vehicles, as well as compaction.

Here's a reminder that Maldon residents have a chance later today to take part in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of those who commission most local health services, from GPs to hospital care.

The Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) – which commissions NHS services in Maldon district, including GPs, hospital care and mental health and learning disability services for the area – is throwing the virtual meeting open to the public at 6pm this evening.