News in Burnham and Dengie

A government scheme to help find and fund six-month work placements for unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds has been taken on by Essex County Council (ECC).

Kickstart Essex has been approved by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a provider for the scheme - with a role of helping employers who come forward to access the funds.

Plans to "urbanise" a section of Burnham Road have been defended by Chelmsford City Council (CCC) - though it has been admitted that the development may led to "slightly longer journey times for vehicles".

Nub News has previously reported on the fears of pressure group 'The Infrastructure Group' that the plans will lead to problems for drivers from South Woodham Ferrers and the Dengie.

Maldon district councillors will hear this week that plans to design and install a state-of-the-art CCTV system for Burnham-on-Crouch High Street and the quay area are moving forward.

A report to Maldon District Council's Crime and Disorder Committee on Thursday, 11 March will tell of progress being made on the plans, with officers from the district's Community Safety Partnership (CSP) "assisting Burnham Town Council in the design of a system to cover Burnham-on-Crouch High Street and the quay area".

The following is a reader's letter following the allocation of secondary school places in the county yesterday (Monday, 1 March.)

Dear Editor,

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for wind across the Burnham and Dengie area from Wednesday (10 March) evening.

The yellow warning indicates that strong and gusty winds are likely to develop on Wednesday evening at around 9pm and continue into Thursday until 3pm.

Broomfield Hospital staff can now feel more 'homely' in their well-earned breaks thanks to IKEA Lakeside donating £3,500 of products.

The home furnishing company wanted to help make a positive impact to staff across Mid and South Essex Hospitals Trust with donations of furniture and a range of kitchen products.

Maldon district police have warned drivers to make sure they have the correct vehicle insurance in place if they take on work delivering food - after seizing a car yesterday evening (Saturday, 6 March).

Officers posted the following on the 'Essex Police Maldon District' Twitter account last night (@EPMaldon) with the photo above:

Heybridge and Maldon still have substantial reminders of the former huge local employer, E.H. Bentall & Co, famous for their ironworks and manufacture of agricultural machinery.

It later diversified its output, and in the 1900's made a valiant attempt to compete in the exciting new world of motor vehicle manufacture.

Maldon District Council (MDC) has responded to residents' concerns over an extract from the current Local Development Plan (LDP) that refer to secondary education provision in the Burnham-on-Crouch and Dengie area.

The statement on secondary school provision in the current LDP was raised as a concern by residents after it emerged on Monday (1 March) that some children from the Dengie area had been allocated secondary school places as far away as Brightlingsea, a situation which Essex County Council is now working with local schools to resolve.

Lockdown restrictions are slowly easing in England and some things will be changing from Monday, March 8.

The biggest change is that schools will be reopening and all children can return to the classroom. Wraparound childcare, such as breakfast and after-school clubs can also re-open.