EPPING'S ONLY NHS DENTISTS OFFICIALLY OPENS

Epping’s only NHS dental practice was officially opened today by the Government’s Chief Dental Advisor, Barry Cockcroft.

The practice opened for business in February, but given the huge influx of patients, there hasn’t been time to arrange an official opening. I was personally inundated with calls and emails from residents desperate to get back on an NHS dentists patient list at the time and I criticised the Government for leaving many people living in our town who didn’t have the money to pay the hefty private dental fees without any health coverage cover.

This week, the co-principal of The Tooth Booth, Dr. Amit Rai was nominated for several categories at the 2009 Dentistry Awards. He said: "Since opening earlier this year we have been touched by the warm welcome we have received from the local community.”

For more information on The Tooth Booth and other NHS dental practices in west Essex call 0800 783 3396 or click here.

HAS THE CREDIT CRUNCH EFFECTED EPPING?

Epping Forest District Council have published their latest “Forester Magazine”, which focuses solely on the effect the credit crunch is having in the local area.

This edition includes articles on supporting your High Street, grow your own, finding your next job, managing debt, making your savings work for you, caring for pets and much more.

To download your copy, please click here. For past editions, please click here.

EPPING'S CHRISTMAS MARKET - Fri 4th December

Epping will once again be celebrating it's renowned Christmas Market on Friday 4th December 2009 from 12 noon until 8pm in Epping High Street. For a full list of events, please click on the image above. I hope to see you all there!

NEW VERDERER OF EPPING FOREST ELECTED

Epping Green resident, Michael Chapman has been appointed to one of the four historic Verderer of Epping Forest roles, which dates back to the 13th Centaury. The Verderers post involves playing a key role in all matters relating to Epping Forest and to sit on the City of London’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee. To qualify for appointment a person must live within one of the forest’s parishes and to not be a member of the Court of Common Council of the City of London.

Mr. Chapman, whose other roles including being one of Her Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant’s of Essex and Chairman of Trustees of St. Clare Hospice is a solicitor by trade and has a keen interest in natural history. He helped to found Theydon Bois and District Rural Preservation Society and has also served as Chairman of the West Essex Health Authority.

Mr. Chapman explained: "As a walker and naturalist living in Theydon and Epping all my life I have always enjoyed the forest. I hope I will be able to help preserve the natural beauty of the forest so it can continue to be enjoyed by all." The new Verderer will take up his post in January and will be required to face re-election in March 2013.

MP LAING TACKLES “BIG BROTHER” STATE

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing, who also severs as Shadow Minister for Justice, has introduces new Conservative Party policies to protect privacy and prevent intrusion into innocent people’s lives.

Eleanor says: “It is every politician’s duty to safeguard the freedom of the individual citizen. More and more information is being gathered on each and every one of us - but enormous databases waste billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money.”

Eleanor has published a paper, “Reversing the Rise of the Surveillance State” which proposes to:
* Scrap the National Identity Register and ditch the ContactPoint database.
* Review the proposals to monitor adults who take children to school, to sports clubs or the Scouts.
* End the permanent retention of innocent people’s DNA on the National DNA database.
* Prevent councils from using anti-terror laws to spy on local citizens; surveillance could only be used where necessary to stop serious crime.
* Subject all new laws to a ‘privacy’ test, and beef up the role of the Information Commissioner.

Eleanor says: “I am deeply concerned about state intrusion into the lives of my constituents as they go about their everyday business. It cannot be right in this country that we are watched at every turn: driving the car, taking the children to school and even walking the dog. These proposals will protect the privacy of people from the state.”

DISTRICT FOOTBALL BADGE COMPETITION WINNER

Ivy Chimneys Primary School pupil Arabella Moore has been announced as the winner of Epping Forest District Council’s “Football Badge Competition” and presented with the new football team kit by EFDC Chairman, Cllr. Mrs. Penny Smith and Leisure portfolio holder, Cllr. Brian Rolfe.

School children across Epping Forest district were invited to design a badge for the new women’s football club - the Davenant Diamonds - that Epping Forest District Council and the Essex FA set up last year.

Over 500 entries for the competition were submitted. The standard of the badge designs were extremely high but Arabella’s simple design of a diamond placed on a pink background, featuring the team’s name, was chosen as the winner.

EPPING FOOTBALL CLUB - NOVEMBER FIXTURES

Epping Football Club is inviting residents to get behind their local team and attend some of their forthcoming games. All home games take place at Stonards Hill Recreation Grounds, Tidy’s Lane, Epping, CM16 6SP. For more information about the Club, please click here or see below for November's fixtures.

SATURDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2009
Essex County FA Junior Cup (Round 2) - Match Number 54
Haver Town v Epping Reserves (AWAY) - Kick-Off: 1.30pm - Referee: G. Clutton

Essex Olympian Football League - Premier Division
Epping FC v Kelvedon Hatch FC (HOME) - Kick-Off: 2.00pm - Referee / Assistants: J. Whittaker Jnr / N. Vickerstaff / Jason Fisher (01279 436477 or 07982 004309)

Mid-Essex League
Sporting Brentwood v Epping FC (AWAY) - Kick-off: 2.00pm - Referee: To be confirmed

SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2009
Anagrams Records Trophy - Round 2
Epping FC v Sandridfe Rovers FC (HOME) - Kick-Off: 1.30pm - Referee / Assistants: G. Brazier / M. Smith / S. Batt

Essex Olympian Football League - Reserve Division 1
Mountnessing Boca v Epping FC (AWAY) - Kick-off: 2.00pm - Referee: S. Shuttleworth

Mid-Essex League
Epping FC v Byfleet Rovers FC (HOME) - Kick-Off: 2.00pm - Referee: W.Ostermeyer

ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL PRESENTATION EVENING

St. John’s Secondary School in Tower Road has hosted it’s Year 11 Presentation Evening this week, which is the school’s opportunity to invite those students who left the school in the 2008/2009 academic year back to school to receive their GCSE certificates and other awards designed to recognise particular areas of achievement.

The event was an opportunity for the school to celebrate their strong exam results and the fact they have achieved the highest ever proportion of A* grades!

The Guest of Honour was former England and Tottenham Hotspur footballer, Les Ferdinand MBE. Also present was former QPR footballer, Clive Wilson who now coaches football at the St. John’s.

Assistant Headteacher, Richard Ahrens said: “Les gave an inspirational speech to students, parents and staff about the importance of perseverance in achieving your goals.”

PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

The following planning applications will be considered by Epping Town Council's Planning and General Purposes Committee on Tuesday 17th November 2009. If you wish to express your view to the committee on any of the application below, you can either email info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or attend the meeting in person at Epping Hall, St. John's Road, Epping, CM16 5JU.

EPF/1991/09 - Mr. R. Bixby, 8a Crows Road, Epping - Conversion of garage into habitable room. Contrary to condition 3 of planning permission EPF/1050/00.
EPF/1994/09 - Bellway Homes Essex, Plots 3 to 6 Kings Wood Park, St. Margaret’s Hospital, Epping - Erection of four detached houses (re-design of the approved Type A house).
EPF/1995/09 - Bellways Homes Essex, Plots 57 to 61 and 64 to 65, Kings Wood Park, St. Margaret’s Hospital, Epping - Erection of four detached houses (re-design of the approved Type A house).
EPF/1998/09 - Mr. B. Honey, 47 Allnuts Road, Epping - Erection of rear extension to replace conservatory and conversion of loft and rear dormer. Pitched roof to existing flat roof bathroom, gable end to main roof in place of hipped end.
EPF/2015/09 - Epping Forest District Council, Condor Building, Civic Offices, 323 High Street, Epping - Replacement of single glazed window units and non-thermally insulated cladding panels with double glazing units and insulated infill panels.
TPO/EPF/1963/09 - Mr. R. Hunt, 2 & 3 Bury Farm Cottages, Bury Lane, Epping - TPO/EPF/21/02 T2, T7 and T8 Ash Fell. T5 Ash 25% crown reduction.
EPF/2018/09 - Ascham Homes, 45 Rayfield, Epping - Single storey side and rear extension and loft conversion with rear dormer window.
EPF/2043/09 (Revised Application) - McCarthy & Stone, Site of 19-23 High Street, Epping - Erection of temporary McCarthy & Stone information advertisements on one sign board and on front boundary hording for up to 3 years.
EPF/1917/09 - Mr. & Mrs. J. Firman, Roscommon, Hemnall Street, Epping - Single story side extensions.

WESTMINSTER REPORT FROM ELEANOR LAING MP

The Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, Eleanor Laing has launched her Autumn 2009 ‘Westminster Report’, which you can download here.

The report covers topics such as, ‘What Does an MP Do?’, and outlines some of the work Mrs. Laing has done recently on the Government’s proposals to introduce a huge number of sites for Gypsies and Travellers, supporting local businesses, tackling MPs pay, helping bring aid to Africa and fighting the ‘Big Brother’ culture. The report also includes a survey which asks: ‘What Would You Most Like Me to Achieve as Your MP?’

EPPING'S TOWNSPERSON OF THE YEAR 2009

Epping Town Council has decided to honour one person from the town each year. The person chosen will have made a significant selfless contribution to the town’s community life, either by a single act which has provided significant benefits to a local organisation or a section of society, or a person which has given selfless service over many years to the community.

The winning candidate will be invited to attend the Mayor’s “At Home” as a guest of honour. Additionally, Council will highlight the good work of others nominated. It is hoped that this scheme of recognition will promote the ideal of service to the community in Epping.

If you wish to nominate a person, please click here to download a nomination form. Alternatively, you can write to the Town Clerk, Epping Town Council, Epping Hall, St. John’s Road, Epping, Essex, CM16 5JU with details of your name and address, the person you wish to nominate with the reason or you may collect a form from Epping Hall. The closing date for nominations to be received is 11th January 2010.

FREE HOME SECURITY ADVICE FOR RESIDENTS

Epping Forest Safer Communities Team working in partnership with Essex Police are offering free security advice to residents considering making improvements to their security.

Community Safety portfolio holder, Cllr. Mrs. Syd Stavrou said: “This is a practical initiative designed to help residents with their security. The advice is free and impartial from two officers who have over 60 years of policing experience between them. We hope that by introducing this as a service we will prevent residents falling victim to crime.”

Chief Inspector Alan Ray, District Police Commander for Epping Forest District said: “This is a very good partnership initiative, fittingly launched during ‘Not in my Neighbourhood’ week. These officers have been carrying out joint security surveys for some time when crimes have occurred and they have proved very reassuring with householders. This initiative will extend this service to a wider group of residents.”

Any residents who are interested in having a security review can contact the Safer Communities Team by emailing here or by telephone to 01992 564608.

REVIEW OF REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY IN EPPING

Once again this year, Epping saw record numbers of residents turn-out at the town’s War Memorial to show their respects for those remarkable young men who have given their tomorrows for our today.

The events, organised by the Royal British Legion, saw Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing, Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Cllr. Mrs. Penny Smith and Mayor of Epping Janet Hedges all lay poppy wreaths on behalf of the town, district and parliament.

Following the wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial, the parade, led by the Epping Forest Pipe Band and including war veterans, air and army cadets, members of the guides and scouting organisations, representatives of St. John’s School and police and fire officers, marched through Epping High Street, paying respects to local dignitaries on the way.

A Service of Remembrance then took place at St. John’s Church, led by the Rev’d Geoffrey Connor, supported by the Epping Forest Band. EFDC Chairman Penny Smith read from the bible, whilst Mayor Janet Hedges read the names of the fallen. After the service, wreaths were also laid at the Civilian Memorial outside St. John’s Church.

HELP US PROTECT EPPING'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

It seems like utter madness that we only have 46 days left until Christmas but, alas, it is true!

Once again this year, Epping Town Council is working hard with various local organisations to pull together a schedule of festive events that the community can engage in. It is sad that each year these tasks become more complicated, as the laws and regulations around each task becomes more onerous, the goods and services cost more and less volunteers come forward to lend a hand.

On Sunday 15th November, Epping Rotary Club will be pulling together as many local volunteers as possible to help decorate and erect our Christmas Trees, which sit proudly above the shop fronts in Epping High Street and transform the centre of our community into a festive scene. So if you are fit, able and willing to help us keep the spirit of Christmas alive and well in Epping, please do come along. We shall be meeting outside of Marks and Spencer at 9am.

Without your practical help and support, this project would have to come to a halt. For more information, please feel free to email me here.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF BAKERS LANE CAR PARK

Bakers Lane Car Park in Epping will be closed to the general public for improvcvement works from Tuesday 10th November until Tuesday 24th November 2009.

The upgrade works to be carried out consist of resurfacing the entire area of the car park, providing new improved surface drainage, improving the lighting and installing CCTV. 50% of the car park will remain open throughout this period, but will be strictly limited to permit holders only. A letter has been sent to all local residents and businesses close to this Car Park, providing details of the works due to be carried out and advising of the times they may be affected.

Baker's Lane is one of three car parks Epping Forest District Council operate in the town and has 141 long-stay spaces available. The charges for this car park are: Up to 2 hours = £1.40 and over 2 hours = £2.80. Cottis Lane has 213 short-stay spaces and the charges are: Up to 30 minutes = £0.10, up to 1 hour = £0.65, Up to 2 hours = £1.40, up to 3 hours = £2.80 and over 3 hours = £9.00. The Civic Offices has 28 short-stay spaces which are available on a Saturday and the charges are the same as Cottis Lane's.

For more information about parking in Epping Forest, please call 01992 564000 or click here.