TORY MEPs STAND-UP FOR ESSEX BUSINESSES

Conservative Eastern Region MEP’s , Geoffrey Van Orden and Vicky Ford are extending invitations to local businesses of all sizes to an important conference to be held at Clare College in Cambridge on 15th March.

The event will be attended by leading members of the Shadow Cabinet and experts in EU
funding programmes. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear about possible developments in business policy and to get a clear, down-to-earth explanation of how you could get EU funds for your business.

Geoffrey explained: “2010 is going to be an important year in British politics and of particular significance for local businesses. If you run a business or have any interest in these issues, you would be warmly welcome to attend”.

Fore more information please email Geoffrey here or call his office on +32 (0)2 284 7332. Alternatively, you can visit his website here.

CLUB ONE9FIVE TO REOPEN WITHIN A WEEK!

Epping’s renowned Club One9Five will reopen on Friday 26th February after Epping Forest District Council’s licensing sub-committee issued the nightclub a new license today.

The club’s license was revoked and subsequently closed following a serious incident outside of the venue on Sunday 26th September 2009 in which 8 people were stabbed and a number of others injured. The committee announced at 12.45pm that a decision had been made to issue a new license following Club One9Five’s change in management and promises to make changes to safety and security procedures.

For those of you who don’t understand the depths of the Licensing Act 2003, if a new management team apply for a new license, any of the historic criminal activity or generic trouble associated with the old licensees has to be disregarded by the committee whilst considering the new application.

To view Club One9Five’s application form and the letters received from local business and residents, please click here.

CAFE BELGIQUE ISSUED WITH FOOD WARNING

Epping’s Belgique Café located in High Street has received an official food safety management warning from Epping Forest District Council’s environmental health officers this week, after an inspection found that shrimps, cheese and ham were all out of date, in one case, by more than a month.

At a hearing at Harlow Magistrates’ Court, the food was ordered to be condemned and destroyed, with the café chain told to pay costs.

A Council spokesman said: "Two hygiene and improvement notices have been issued to Belgique on ‘food management safety’ and ‘staff training’. They have 14 days to comply with the notices and failure to do so could lead to prosecution."

DRUG DEALERS GET COMBINED 65 YEAR SENTENCE

Three gentlemen from Epping Forest, Frankie Stedman, 26, of Cunningham Rise, North Weald, John Esqulant, 52, of Blackacre Road, Theydon Bois and Columbian national Fernando Hurtado, 41, of Waltham Abbey have been sentenced to a combined 65 years in prison after the Serious Organised Crime Agency uncovered a drug operation involving £80m worth of cocaine (299 kilos).

Hurtado and Esqulant have now been found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine at Leicester Crown Court where they were sentenced to 28 years' imprisonment. Stedman, who was arrested on June 18, 2009 as he stepped off a plane at Heathrow Airport, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and was jailed for 9 years.

A spokesman for SOCA said: "These men thought they could make a lot of money through drug trafficking but they were wrong. Our officers were one step ahead of them and made sure their plan failed. SOCA is investigating the gang's finances. A confiscation hearing will take place later this year.”

GYPSY & TRAVELLER UPDATE: Government Appeal

The Leader of Epping Forest District Council will appeal directly to the Government for the removal of the Direction requiring the Council to consult upon and develop a separate Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document. The letter to Right Honourable John Healey MP, Minister for Housing and Planning within the Department of Communities and Local Government was recommended at the Cabinet meeting on 4 January to Full Council on 19 January for final approval.

Councillor Di Collins will publish a letter on behalf of the Council drawing attention to the substantial increase in provision of authorised pitches since the Government Direction. She will state that the workload associated with continuation of the Government Direction is putting other planning priorities at risk. She will seek approval for the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document to be subsumed within the Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework. She will seek support from all three local MPs and the Shadow Minister.

Councillors also asked Councillor Collins to remind the Minister that the new planning framework was supposed to streamline processes and reduce costs. The Direction seems to have created the opposite effect. Councillors complimented the local community for the amount of work that had gone into the responses to the consultation and stressed that this evidence base was a key input to further work on the DPD.

Epping Forest District Council is required to identify space to accommodate a minimum of 34 additional Gypsy and Traveller pitches by 2011. Through the normal planning process, permissions and approvals have reduced this figure to about 20. However, more than 10,500 people responded individually or as part of groups to the consultation on potential sites. This led to a massive evaluation exercise for Council staff which has taken far longer than the Government timetable envisaged.

The Council wants to streamline the process by subsuming the Gypsy and Traveller issues into the Core Strategy as part of the Local Development Framework. The LDF replaces the Local Plan as the ‘blue-print’ for policies against which future planning applications are judged. Completion of the LDF is considered vital by the Council as it prepares with Harlow and East Herts District Councils to implement the recommendations of the East of England Plan. The Council will continue the preparation of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document pending the Minister’s response.

Councillor Di Collins said: “There is enormous strength of feeling among residents and councillors. We believe the original Government Direction was flawed. We are now appealing to the Minister to look at the outcome of that Direction - the process that Epping Forest District Council has followed - and listen to local residents and councillors and the evidence we have already collected. If he listens, I believe he must understand that the Direction should be lifted and local people should be trusted with the power to make decisions for ourselves.”

DISTRICT RUBBISH COLLECTIONS SUSPENDED

Following several accidents and injuries involving members of the refuse collection teams, all waste and recycling collections have been suspended throughout the district. The collection crews are facing severe difficulties in providing the service due to the very dangerous conditions which exist on many of the district’s roads and pavements. During the suspension of normal operations the Council have diverted resources to the gritting of town centres and secondary shopping areas.

They will continue to monitor the situation carefully and recommence waste and refuse collections as soon as it is safe to do so. Prioritised collections will take place so that those properties that have been waiting the longest for a collection are dealt with first.

Councillor Mary Sartin, Environment Portfolio Holder said: “I would like to express my thanks and concern for the waste collection crews. They have done everything possible to keep collections going but conditions have become too dangerous. Refuse and recycling collections will recommence as soon as it is safe. In the meantime I would like to thank residents for their continuing patience and support.”

'HELP THY NEIGHBOUR' SAYS COUNCIL LEADER

The Leader of Epping Forest District Council, Cllr. Mrs. Di Collins released a public statement today saying: “Severe weather puts a great deal of extra strain on local services but it is in these situations that we find the best examples of community spirit. If you know someone who may be vulnerable why not give them a ring or a knock on the front door just to make sure they are all right. If travellingm Have plenty of warm clothing and an emergency supply of food and drink in your car. Make sure you are not short on fuel and put a spade in the boot. Make sure your mobile phone is charged and has enough credit. Keep a careful eye on weather reports and travel news before deciding to travel. Tuning into your local radio station can be the best source of news.”

HOW ARE WE DEALING WITH THE SNOW IN EPPING?

I’ve had a number of emails and calls from residents recently regarding how Essex County Council’s Highways and Transportation department are helping to keep Epping moving during the heavy snow we have seen in the past few weeks. Many residents have asked which roads actually get gritted or salted as part of the Council’s precautionary measures (i.e. when frost, ice or snow are forecast) and the answer is:

* Motorways.
* “A”, “B” and “C” roads, main roads linking estates etc.
* Direct access routes to hospitals, fire and ambulance stations.
* Public service bus routes carrying a total of four or more public service buses per day, at least 5 days a week.
* Sites of four or more recorded accident (Personal injury accidents) within a 3 year period where frost/ice on the carriageway surface was a contributory factor.
* Rural routes, i.e. the main access road, leading to the main settlement, of parishes of 50 Households or more.
* Epping Forest District Council are also provided with a supply of salt grit to cover town centres.

In Epping, the following roads are also covered: Lindsey Street, High Street, High Road, Palmers Hill etc, The Plain, Coopersale Common, Stonards Hill, Coopersale Street, Stewards Green Road, Station Road, Centre Drive, Bower Hill, Bridge Hill, Brook Road, Ivy Chimneys Road, Theydon Road, Bury Lane, Tower Road, Lower Swaines, Coronation Hill and Shaftsbury Road.

The following roads are classed as “secondary roads” that we salt post snow/ice when resources permit and when the main salted roads are clear: Kendall Avenue, Ravensmere, Hemnall Street (both sections), Bakers Lane running into Ingles Mead, Nicholl Road running into Amesbury Road, Lincolns Fields, Rayfield, Severns Field (cul-de-sac), Beaconfield Road, Beaconfield Avenue.

A number of residents have also raised concern about the recent state of Crows Road, given the fact it is a very well used road to access St. John’s School and has a steep incline, so I have today had this road added to the secondary roads list.

Epping Town Council has also purchased a number of salt bins which are scattered across the town. These are to be used by residents who believe the road outside of their home is dangerous. They can be found at: Theydon Grove (opposite number 3), in Beaconsfield Road (opposite number 24), in Parklands (opposite 48), in Ingles Mead (at the junction with Rayfield), in Stewards Green Road (opposite the Merry Fiddlers Pub) and in St. John’s Road (inside Epping Primary School’s gates).

For more information about County Highways and travel information, please click here. Otherwise you can follow the latest announcements on Twitter here.

REFUSE COLLECTION RULES SUSPENDED

Epping Forest District Council have announced today that they are suspending their standard rules on refuse collection to help ease the backlog of waste created over the Christmas period, which was impacted badly by the recent weather conditions.

The statement issued says: “The Council has suspended its normal rules on the putting out of side waste and will take away all waste put out for collection until the backlog has been cleared. Residents are reminded that dry recycling (including glass) can be put out in any container (except a black plastic sack) and the crews will collect it. Christmas trees will also be collected as part of the food and garden service, provided that they are not taller than, or have been cut down into pieces of, not more than four feet (1.2 metres). Residents are requested to continue to separate their recycling as this is particularly important at this time of year due to the volumes of glass, plastic and paper packaging in the waste stream.”

DISGUST AT PROPOSED WOOTON BASSETT MARCH

Today, I received a message from the family of the late Royal Marine Georgie Sparks, which informed me of a proposed protest march organised by an extremist Islamic al-Muhajiroun movement in the small market town of Wooton Bassett.

Anjem Choudary of Islam4UK has sparked dismay with plans for 500 of its members to parade with empty coffins symbolising Muslim victims through the town, which has become famous for honouring service personnel killed in the conflict, as they land at RAF Lyneham.

I wrote to Cllr. Chris Wannell, the Mayor of Wooton Bassett, last year to express the thanks of the people of Epping for the truly astonishing way their community had stood together and committed to showing each and every one of our war dead absolute respect when their bodies returned home.

Today, I have found myself writing to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to express my concerns at the proposed march in this small town, as I believe it to be complete inappropriate and very disrespectful both to the community of Wooton Bassett and also to friends and families of the hundreds of brave soldiers who have travelled through the town.

Islam4UK claim to simply be making a political stand against the war, which, as a wholehearted believer in democracy, I can accept. However, this group, like all others, should make their representations known to those who made the decision to take our country to war and who are the only people who can end it, which is our Members of Parliament. Westminster is designed to accommodate protest marches of this kind. Bombarding Wooton Bassett in this way is, quite frankly, shameful and inappropriate.

This protest march will require the approval of the Home Secretary to take place, so please join me in sharing your concerns by emailing the Home Secretary here johnsona@parliament.uk or by writing to Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson MP, Home Secretary, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF. Alternatively your can email the Prime Minister here BrownG@parliament.uk or write to him at 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA.

WINTER SCENES IN & AROUND EPPING FOREST

Epping Forest District Council’s photographer has managed to capture some beautiful pictures from across the district in the sever winter weather we have been subject to in the past few weeks, which you can view here.

MBE AWARDED TO LOCAL PC GERRY WILLMOTT

A long-serving Metropolitan Police Officer from North Weald has been made a MBE for his work setting up a boxing club for inner city youths.

PC Gerry Willmott, of School Green Lane, was awarded the accolade in the Queen's New Year's Honours list after receiving widespread praise after launching a boxing club for young people in the London Borough of Haringey in 1999, as a way of keeping young people out of trouble by teaching them the discipline of the sport.

Gerry explained: "Ten years ago we just needed something to get the kids off the streets. We wanted to do something different from football and basketball and I have a background of boxing, even after joining the police force in 1975." Speaking about his MBE, he said: "When I found out I was completely surprised, I never expected to ever receive anything like this."

Gerry is a very old family-friend and I couldn’t think of a more fitting person to receive an award of this kind. Before moving to North Weald, he lived in Chapel Road in Epping for many years and served as a police officer in Waltham Abbey. He’s a man who gives so much of his time to benefit others and is the sort of person we all aspire to be. Well done Gerry!!

REVIEW OF EPPING’S CAROLS ON THE GREEN

The town’s annual Christmas Carol Concert was, once again, a resound success. The event saw more pople than ever before come out to celebrate in some traditional festive community cheer!

It is events like this, which are entirely organised by local volunteers, that make our town stand out from others and makes us all proud to live in a town like Epping.

As you can hear below, I “Wish you a Merry Christmas” and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

CAROLS ON THE GREEN - CHRISTMAS EVE IN EPPING

Epping Rotary Club will, once again, be hosting the town's "Carols on the Green" on Christmas Eve, starting at 3.45pm in Church Hill (by Epping's War Memorial).

The event, which is being supported by St. John’s School's band is open to everyone and complimentary mulled wine and hot chestnuts will be served. Song sheets will also be provided. A collection will be held with the proceeds going towards buying new instruments at St. John's School.

This is one fantastically festive community event I urge you all not to miss!

FREE LUNCH IN EPPING ON CHRISTMAS DAY

The Churches Together in Epping and District are, once again, inviting anyone who is planning to spend Christmas Day on their own this year to join other local people for a traditional Christmas Lunch at 12pm.

The lunch itself takes place in the Catholic Church Hall, Church Hill, Epping, CM16 4RA (by Epping’s War Memorial) and lunch will be cooked and served entirely by local volunteers.

I have had the pleasure in joining the well-attended event organised by the wonder that is Mary Morgan and it really was a wonderful occasion, full or traditional festive cheer! Everyone is welcome to attend this event, so to book you place, please call Mary Morgan on 01992 574719 or any church of the churches in the Epping area.

CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES IN EPPING

For those who are interested, I have listed below the various Church Services taking place in Epping over the Christmas period:

Wed 24 Dec @ 5pm – Family Crib Service – St. John’s Church
Wed 24 Dec @ 8pm – First Communion of Christmas – Epping Upland
Wed 24 Dec @ 11pm – Midnight Communion – Theydon Garnon
Wed 24 Dec @ 11.30pm – Midnight Communion – Coopersale
Wed 24 Dec @ 11.30pm – Midnight Communion – St. John’s Church
Thur 25 Dec @ 9.20am – Christmas Morning Communion – Theydon Garnon
Thur 25 Dec @ 11am – Family Communion – Coopersale
Thur 25 Dec @ 9.20am – Christmas Morning Eucharist – St. John’s Church
Thur 25 Dec @ 9.20am – Christmas Morning Communion – Epping Upland

For more information about what’s the Church of England are up to in Epping Forest, please click here.

POLICE CHIEF GETS THE ALL-CLEAR IN COURT

I found myself in the unusual position of providing a character reference to Ipswich Crown Court this week on behalf of Chief Inspector Jonathan Baldwin, who served as District Commander of Policing for Epping Forest during 2008 and early 2009.

C.I. Baldwin was arrested on three counts of fraud by misrepresentation relating to mileage claims between December 2007 and March 2008 totalling £310. I worked incredibly closely with the District Commander during this time in my role as Mayor of Epping and had no problem at all in describing him as a "committed, respected, focused and thoroughly decent". During our time together, we worked to establish various Neighbourhood Action Panels, Joint Action Groups and a Crime and Disorder Partnership for the district. I also spent time attending 'ride-alongs', where I would shadow him and other senior officers whilst they executed their duties to get a feel for what they were doing and what issues they were facing.

The jury took 35 minutes to find him not guilty of all counts and the Chairman of the Essex branch of the Police Federation, Tony Rayner, said the case should never have been brought before the courts.

It is, of course, absolutely right that allegations of this kind must be properly investigated and considered by the relevant authorities, but I do worry about the huge amount of time and public money that has been wasted on this case!

EPPING RETAINS “QUALITY COUNCIL” STATUS

Epping Town Council is due to receive its official reaccreditation for Quality Council status after meeting all of the criteria set by the Essex County Accreditation Panel.

Town / Parish Councils are required to reapply for accreditation every 4 years and provide an in-depth portfolio of evidence for consideration. The accreditation scheme was introduced some years ago by the Government which had planned to pass additional responsibilities to those Council's which meet the strict criteria. There are 684 Quality Councils nationally, of which 113 have been reaccredited.

ESSEX SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT EXHIBITION

Epping Forest Museum is to open a new exhibition next week on the women's suffrage movement in Essex.

The museum, located in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, hosts the 'Breaking Barriers' series of displays from Friday 11th December until 13th March 2010.

The exhibition, which has been organised in conjunction with the Parliamentary Outreach Service, examines the experiences of suffragists and suffragettes in Essex and their struggle for women's rights. For more information about the exhibition and museum opening times, call 01992 716882.

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.