Talk About Epping Autumn 2023

TALK ABOUT EPPING

The Mayor’s view

Following the local elections in May, I was delighted to be elected Mayor by my new colleagues on the Town Council.

My first official duty was to open a small franchise at Abridge Garden Centre for ACE Upcycling, run by Voluntary Action Epping Forest. Young people with special needs are taught to make goods from reclaimed wood to sell at various events, improving their social skills and self-worth. Next came the unveiling of the blue plaque and information board at St Margaret’s Hospital relating to the outbreak and treatment of jaundice in Epping in the 60s. Epping in Bloom’s Scarecrow Festival has become a firm favourite with our children and this year was a great success.

I was invited to judge the entries; a very difficult task indeed as the festival grows in size each year.

The main highlight of my Civic duties was a trip to Eppingen to celebrate 40 years of the twinning of our towns. I had the greatest honour, along with Barbara Scruton from The Epping/Eppingen Association and dignitaries from Eppingen, to sign a new declaration of our twinning.

Being very interested in opportunities for our young people,

I was delighted to attend a YES Partnership event in support of young people learning how to present themselves; encouraging them to speak, be heard and to have confidence. It was a joy to mix with these amazing young people and watch as they enjoyed learning about themselves.

What a brilliant Town Show this year. Thank you to Geraldine and Bill for the organisation and the Town Clerk and councillors that helped on the day. It was a truly wonderful day enjoyed by many of you.

Rotary’s Classic Car Show followed at Stonards two weeks later and was also a fantastic event.

I was pleased to attend the 15th birthday celebration of the Youth Council at the District Council. It was so interesting to hear from youth councillors, past and present and learn about the impact this project has had on our community. We are so lucky to have many community events in our town, I hope you will all try to support them. Although like so many others in these times we have had to trim our spending, we are still committed to providing an excellent and efficient service to the people of Epping. As a rather dreary summer gives way to autumn, we are already looking forward to Christmas, with the Christmas Market, trees and lights, which are all provided by the Town Council.

I look forward to meeting some of you as I’m out and about.

Christine Burgess

Epping Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Each year, Epping Town Council elect a Town Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from the 12 town councillors. The Town Mayor for the 2023/2024 Civic year is Cllr Christine Burgess. The Deputy Mayor for the 2023/24 Civic year is Cllr Cherry McCredie. The Town Mayor is the Chairman of the Town Council and Chairs Council meetings. The Deputy Mayor deputises for them in their absence. The Mayor acts as a key point of contact for the Town Clerk who manages the Town Council. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will visit many local organisations and attend many events over the course of the Civic year (May to May each year). Their fellow town councillors also attend many events. You can find details of the town councillors 2023-2027, who were elected in May 2023, on the back page of this magazine, along with details on how to contact the Mayor should you wish them to attend or open a local event.

Epping petanque match

Each year, there is a petanque match between Epping Town Council and Epping Forest District Council. The match takes place at the petanque piste at Stonards Hill recreation ground. The Town Mayor represents Epping Town Council and fellow councillors from Epping Forest District Council compete for the trophy. The event is always light-hearted and fun. Unfortunately, it had to be cancelled due to the heavy rain. We look forward to its return next year.

Essex County Council support

Essex County Council have provided details of their micro-enterprise project. There is a directory of services which can be found using the Tribe App (the Tribe app connects local people offering support to the local people that need it.)

If you are a provider who wishes to be added to the directory, get in touch with Essex County Council.

For more details email: Micro.enterprise@essex.gov.uk

Epping Town Show: Sunday 2nd July 23

Hugh crowds visited the annual free entry Epping Town Show on Sunday 2nd July. More than 80 trader, crafts, community, charity stalls as well as food and drinks vendors attended with a variety of goods for sale as well as promoting good causes. Side shows included circus skills, donkey rides, photo booth caravan, facepainting, alpacas, bubbles demos and a dog agility area outside while there was a model railways display in the Jack Silley Pavilion. The entertainment programme included pipe and silver bands, local dance groups and a karate demonstration. The JJ Cocomelon and Mario characters dropped by to entertain the children. Town Mayor Cllr Christine Burgess said: “Epping Town Show 2023 was another great success for the Town Council. With good weather lots of people really enjoyed the day with lots to see and do, especially for young children. A big thank you to the management of St Margaret’s Hospital for allowing car parking on their grounds, and of course, to the Rotary Club of Epping for organising the parking. Thank you also to Mullucks Estate Agents for supporting us by loaning letting boards for our posters and supplying promotional leaflets.

A special thank you to the RAF cadets who assisted with a medical emergency and to the RAF for the Lancaster flypast which, because of the weather, was delayed until about 5.30 pm but was still enjoyed by many people. Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped make this an event to remember.”

We hope to see you all there again next year.

Epping Monday Market

Epping’s Monday Market has been part of the historic fabric of Epping since 1253.

The market has been put under pressure in recent years, but we still have a wide range of goods and services, such as pet food, plants, fruit and veg, dried fruit and nuts, clothes, hardware, houseware, gifts, cards, accessories, handbags, jewellery, glasses, windows, blinds, china, watch batteries and much more. Casual traders welcome by appointment. £35 per single gazebo.

Contact: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone: 01992 579444 to check availability. Come and support our loyal traders, varied High Street and shop local.

Swaines Green May Fayre 2023

Luckily, after all the wet weather in April leading up to the May Fayre, the weather was fantastic on the actual day and a huge number of visitors were out in force having a wonderful time.

There was a good selection of stalls, selling food and drink, handicrafts and plants and there were chances to win coconuts and sweets. Although the beautiful Copped Hall Rolls Royce had mechanical trouble and couldn’t come, their wonderful classic Rover was brought instead, so all in all there was plenty of interest for visitors of all ages.

In the Arena, the ever-popular Punch and Judy show wowed the children, and the ferret racing got the crowd excited as usual. The various tug of war matches were hugely popular and very competitive in a fun and friendly way! The Anwaar Belly Dancers, as always, put on a wonderful and colourful show and The Maypole dancing was fantastic, well done to the children from Coopersale and Theydon Garnon CE Primary School. Events concluded with the ever-enthusiastic fun dog show. The Nature Walk led by our bird expert, Roger Emmens (and Epping’s Townsperson of the Year 2022), was a great success with everyone enjoying the guided walk around Swaines Green and learning about the area and what they could expect to see throughout the seasons. A big thanks to all who attended and spent money with us, benefiting not just the shows and stalls, but also of course the Friends of Swaines Green Conservation Charity enabling the continued upkeep of the Swaines Green land. A big thank you to all those who helped set up, helped run the event, and cleared away at the end, including the very hard-working 1st Theydon Garnon Scouts and Epping Forest Police Cadets and too many individuals to mention. Thank you to Richard Mortimer for being an excellent compere, to Morag and Jeremy Batchelor and team for running the beer tent and Louise and Lee Raphael and team for running the tea tent and Ping Pong game. Last, but definitely not least, a big thank you to Epping Town Council for allowing the May Fayre to be held on Lower Swaines recreation ground.

Please do visit our website at www.swainesgreen.org.uk or on Facebook ‘The Friends of Swaines Green’ to learn more about what we do, what you can find (animals, birds, wildlife, etc) at Swaines Green, how you can volunteer (volunteers are always needed), future events and photos from the Fayre. Save the Date! Next year’s May Fayre will be on Saturday 11th May (please note the May Fayres will now be on the Saturday after May Day). We hope to see you all again then.

Horticultural Society community picnic

COMMUNITY HARVEST PICNIC

Come along to the Epping Horticultural community harvest picnic. We encourage growers to bring something they have grown so we can enjoy a feast together. Members who haven’t grown anything this year you are still welcome to join us maybe bake a cake or bring along some snacks!

Calling all our passionate growers, green thumbs, and plant enthusiastic members.

We invite you to a delightful community picnic on the meadow road allotments where we celebrate the bountiful fruits of our labour. Bring something you've grown to the picnic for us all to savour a taste of the sumptuous feast of fresh produce. A great chance to share the joy of our gardening successes so far and to talk about the growing challenges.

Date: Sunday 3rd September

Picnic bench at the top of Allotments

Meadow Road

Stories and Tips: Don't forget to pack stories and tips to share! We want to hear about your gardening adventures, the challenges you've overcome, and the wisdom you've gained along the way. Let's foster a nurturing space to learn from one another and strengthen our gardening community.

Feasting: Once all the dishes are laid out and everyone has showcased their homegrown produce, we'll embark on a magnificent picnic! Prepare to indulge in a mouthwatering array of flavours, textures, and colours that only nature's bounty can provide.

Garden Swap: Bring along any surplus seeds, seedlings, or gardening tools for a friendly exchange! Share your extras with fellow growers and take home something new to nurture in your garden. Let's come together, celebrate our green thumbs, and revel in the taste of our shared harvest. Join us at the community Harvest Picnic and let the aroma of homegrown goodness fill the air!

We will look forward to seeing you and your garden's treasures at our Epping Horticultural community Harvest Picnic!

What to Bring?

Whether it's plump, juicy tomatoes, vibrant bell peppers, fragrant herbs, or any other harvest from your gardening haven, bring your proudest accomplishments to showcase the diversity of our community's green thumbs.

Delicious Delights: In addition to your garden or allotment treasures, bring along homemade dishes, preserves, jams, pickles, or baked goods made with your own homegrown ingredients. Let's explore the delicious possibilities that arise from our shared love of growing.

Thank you very much to D Bagan-Jones for the lovely picture of sunset over Woodmeads, Epping on the cover. Please send us any pictures of Epping which shows its beauty. We are always looking for cover photographs, that are portrait, with no people in them and at least 5MB resolution.

Rotary means charity

The Rotary Club of Epping opened their summer season of events with a Classic Car Show to raise money for local Epping charities. The Show, which is destined to become an annual event attracted 135 Classic Cars from every era and enthusiasts flocked to Stonards Hill recreation ground to get a taste of the glamour of yesteryear and get down to some serious technical car talk.

The Theydon Oak Bar, Church’s BBQ and Julie’s café plus a variety of other vendors ensured that everyone was entertained, well fed and watered. The Classic Car Show was made possible by sponsors, Treehouse Nursery Schools, and Epping’s Concept 5 and Stevenette Estate Agents, and generously supported by a number of other Epping businesses. The Rotary Club’s President, Barbara Scruton paid tribute to Epping Town Council for enabling the Show to take place at Stonards Hill recreation ground and hoped that the Club would be able to lead a community project to improve facilities at Stonards Hill in the coming year. The date of the 2024 Classic Car Show will be released shortly, so check out the Rotary Club’s announcements on our website, social media or Everything Epping Forest – you don’t want to miss it. Having raised a total in excess of £36,000.00, last year across all the Club’s events, The Rotary Club of Epping will be raising the bar this year to accommodate as many charities as possible. The Rotary Club’s President, Barbara Scruton, said: “When it comes to charity donations, Epping folk are very generous, so we like to have as many free events as possible and plan to have more in the coming year. Don’t forget to support Carols on the Green this Christmas.”

The Rotary Club of Epping have recently donated £16,000 to St Clare Hospice, £3,000 to Haven House Children’s Hospice, £3,000 to The Chigwell Riding School Trust for Special Needs, £1000 to the Herts & Essex Air Ambulance Service, £1000 to the Friends of St Margaret’s Hospital and numerous other smaller donations to deserving charities, as well as donating to disaster funds internationally.

King’s Coronation windows and crown competition

Epping Town Council invited our shops and businesses to decorate their windows for the King’s Coronation on 6th May 2023. Many of you took part creating really colourful displays. This picture is from funeral directors and monumental masons Daniel Robinson & Sons.

If anyone has any street party stories or pictures to share with us, please send them in.

Thank you also to the children who designed a crown for the Mayor for Epping Town Council’s competition. We loved your inventive designs, which were displayed in St John’s Church for the Coronation.

Blue plaque and information at St Margaret’s Hospital

In June, Epping Town Council installed a blue plaque and information board at St Margaret’s Hospital detailing the hospital’s historic role as a workhouse and its relationship to an outbreak of Jaundice in Epping.

The idea was put forward by the Epping Society and they helped develop the concept, wording and the unveiling.

The blue plaque commemorates Dr Harry Kopelman and we were honoured to be joined by Dr Kopelman’s son Michael and family at the unveiling.

We were also joined by one of the medical team involved at the time, John Warren, and the speeches were most interesting.

Do go and have a look at the blue plaque and information which is near the café towards the entrance to the Hospital. You can also find lots of information about the Hospital and Epping Jaundice online.

Thank you to the Epping Society and the team at St Margaret’s Hospital for assisting us with this project.

The Music Den Epping

Firstly, a big thank you to all those who have attended and have continued to attend the events and support live music in Epping.

The event in May saw the return to The Den of Mike Hatchard, this time as a trio. Unfortunately, attendance was low but those that did attend enjoyed an evening of extremely varied music with some comedy included appreciated by all.

Tuesday 10th OCTOBER 2023

Fortunately, attendances improved for the two June events with the return of The Feelgood Band, performing Dr Feelgood classics and a new singer/songwriter Guy Tortora. Guy, originally from Pasadena and now residing in N London, provided a great evening of entertainment with some self-penned songs and some well-known classics.

FORTHCOMING SCHEDULE

12th Sept: John Doe Trio

26th Sept: Robin Bibi Band

10th Oct: Debbie Bond on tour from Alabama

Sunday 15th OCTOBER 2023

15th October (SUNDAY) SPECIAL Hamilton Loomis – on tour from Texas. NB entrance by tickets in advance. All events are on a Tuesday unless otherwise stated. Tickets from the Hemnall Social Club (during open hours), wegottickets or email: dennistimbers@msn.com Information on events and performers on LEMONROCK, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE or the Hemnall Social Club website.

7 ways to boost your brain power

We’re fortunate in Epping to have lots of initiatives to support those living with Alzheimer’s as well as help for friends and family. With an estimated 10% of all people over the age of 65 having Alzheimer’s disease (up to 50% over 80) it’s great to know that local organisations are getting on board with dementia friendly events, services and help.

But what if you’re approaching your 60s and worried for your health? Perhaps you’ve recently lost a family member or one has been diagnosed. What if you’ve noticed a change in your processing abilities or memory. Is it age, stress or early onset dementia? It’s scary and whilst there are new drugs on the horizon to help, there’s a lot you can do to help your brain function that doesn’t require an appointment with your doctor or spending lots of money.

1. Get active. As well as cardio-vascular, bone health and disease prevention benefits of regular exercise, studies have linked higher activity levels in healthy people with less cognitive decline. Some research has suggested that regular exercise could reduce the toxic effect of proteins that build up in the brain as dementia develops. We already know that active individuals tend to have less brain shrinkage as they age (linked to cognitive decline) and perform better in memory tests.

2. Consider training with weights to stop your brain from shrinking. As well as cardio-vascular exercise, adding resistance training to your lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for your health as you get older. Muscles and brains typically get smaller over the age of 40 unless we use them. And muscle loss has been linked with brain shrinkage. You can slow this down by getting started with weights. This doesn’t mean hours in the gym, it could be just 10 minutes a day. Other benefits include less joint pain, more stamina and more energy.

3. Eat a Mediterranean diet. Forget fads and fasting. Whilst it’s important to maintain a healthy weight as we age, studies have linked Mediterranean diets with reduced memory loss and slower rates of decline in thinking. Think legumes, oily fish, low sugar and low saturated fats.

4. Do something social. Just like our neurological pathways, our brains need connection. Weekly exercise classes aren’t just about exercise, they’re about being social. With loneliness on the rise, how about finding new friends by connecting over golf or a ramble. It doesn’t have to be exercise, there are so many great clubs in the Epping area.

5. Learn something new. Our brains love new things. Learning a new skill or a new sport creates new neural pathways in our brain and keeps the cogs whirring.

6. Transform your existing healthy habits into brain training. Adding challenges to your daily habits can improve your brain function. If you love running or walking, try a new path or go cross country so you have to dodge puddles or tree roots. Doing simple maths puzzles in your head whilst on your commute can get your brain working harder and boost your mental capacity.

7. Sleep. Getting enough rest and allowing your brain to recharge is vital for healthy cognitive function. If you’re struggling with sleep try getting active in the morning, limit caffeine after midday, or try a mindful exercise class like Pilates, yoga or relaxation, this can help you get restful zzzs at night. For more information on getting started with exercise, Pilates or resistance training as an older adult, contact Chris and Karen at Fit School. The husband and wife team run fitness and Pilates classes, events and offer personal training. They specialise in women’s health and training older adults. Chris also coaches children privately and through his Athletics Academy: www.fit-school.co.uk

New type of post office: Allnutts Road, Epping

A new type of Post Office branch has opened in the area at Allnutts, 33A Allnutts Road, Epping, CM16 7BE (from 30th May 2023). In order to strengthen the network and enhance its commercial sustainability, we have introduced a lighter, flexible branch format called Drop & Collect, which has been developed to take advantage of the opportunities a vibrant, and increasingly competitive, parcels market offers. Consumer shopping habits have been changing and the popularity of online shopping has transformed the parcels market at pace. Drop & Collect will help us address gaps in service coverage, ensuring that we have the best network for parcels across all parts of the UK. The new Drop & Collect at Allnutts, offers Post Office services from a handheld device, providing convenient access for customers to bill payments and prepaid parcel collections and returns. To maximise accessibility to these services that our customers are increasingly seeking, more complex services like personal and business banking will not be available at this branch. Details of the opening hours and the products and services available are provided below. A wider range of Post Office services are available from the nearby branches at Epping Post Office, 277 High Street, Epping, CM16 4DA and North Weald Post Office, 20 High Street, North Weald, Epping, CM16 6BU. The latest available branch information can be found on our website: www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder

Opening times & Post Office services available: Mon - Sat 8am to 8pm, Sun 8am to 6pm.

Mail: Parcel collect and return – prepaid only. Other: Bill payments, Mobile top-up service. For information about product availability call: 03457 223344.

From: Post Office

Lots going on at St Clare Hospice

St Clare Hospice runs a series of ten, local Bereavement Café groups which are open to all and free to attend. At St Clare, we feel that some of the most meaningful support you may experience when you have been bereaved, is through connecting with others who have had similar experiences. Everyone is welcome to access this free, community-led service, whether your loss was recent, or a long time ago.

A Bereavement Café takes place at Hemnall Street Social Club, Epping, every Monday from 10am-11.30am. There is also a Bereavement Café at St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood Road, every Friday from 2pm-4pm. Find your nearest Bereavement Café on the website: stclarehospice.org.uk/bereavement-cafe or call 01279 945089.

St Clare Hospice charity shops would really appreciate any donations of pre-loved goods. They need good quality clothing, shoes and bags, furniture: sofas, tables, chairs and wardrobes, games and toys, books, CDs and vinyl. To donate, find your closest shop by visiting stclarehospice.org.uk/shops

People living with a serious, long-term or terminal illness, as well as the elderly, often struggle with loneliness and could do with some extra support. Compassionate Neighbours can really make a difference. They are a network of trained volunteers who offer their time, companionship and support to people living in their community who are coping with serious illness or old age. Compassionate Neighbours can support you by visiting regularly, offering friendship, emotional support and a listening ear, helping you do the things you like doing, helping you stay connected to your community, family and friends. All support is free. Call 01279 773774 or email: patients@stclarehospice.org.uk

Are you living with COPD, a lung condition, heart failure, MS, Parkinson’s or cancer? The Wellbeing Hub brings together a range of services to support you and your family to live life to the full while coping with a life-limiting illness. With one-to-one support, expert clinics, group programmes and drop-in support, we can help you live well, keep doing the things you love, and reach your goals. Our free range of services and groups include a living well programme, breathlessness group, fatigue management group, acupuncture clinic, Café Clare drop-in and community space groups, including woodworking, painting classes and crafts. The Wellbeing Hub is for people over 18, diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. All support is free. You must be registered with a GP in W Essex or E Herts. Call 01279 773774 or email: patients@stclarehospice.org.uk

GriefLine (01279 945089) is a local resource offering much-needed emotional support via telephone, across West Essex and East Herts, to anyone struggling with their grief around the loss of someone. GriefLine operates from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. It is run by a team of St Clare staff and volunteers, trained to deliver emotional support to those who are struggling with their grief. Anyone who has experienced a loss, whether recently or in the past, is welcome to call GriefLine. No previous connection to St Clare Hospice is required to access support. GriefLine is free, though charges may apply in line with your standard network rate. Visit: griefline.co.uk

St Clare offer a free furniture collection service. Book online and they’ll collect from your door. Donate your quality, pre-loved furniture to St Clare, and they’ll turn it into amazing hospice care for local people. They are able to collect and re-sell sofas & armchairs, dining tables & chairs, occasional tables, wardrobes & bookcases, chests of drawers & dressing tables. Book your collection at: stclarehospice.org.uk/arrange-furniture-collection or call 01279 639752.

The Men’s Shed at St Clare offers a community space for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun. Men’s Sheds are all about social connections, building friendships, sharing skills, knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter. Come along and practice skills, enjoy making and mending, and enjoy a hobby. Wednesdays between 9.30am and 3.30pm, excluding bank holidays. Community Space, St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood Road, CM17 9JX. For more information email: tracey.hall@stclarehospice.org.uk or call 01279 773700

Memory Walk: St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood Road, CM17 9JX. Sunday 17th September 2023, 10.30am-2pm; walk starts 11am. Join us to remember your loved ones at our fifth annual 5k sponsored walk on Sunday 17th September 2023, where we come together with local people to take part in a 5k walk in honour of a loved one. Starting from St Clare Hospice, you’ll take on a stunning route through the pretty Hastingwood countryside, meeting back at the Hospice for a BBQ. Your entry includes a keepsake heart for all walkers, BBQ option, free St Clare t-shirt when you receive your first JustGiving donation. Tickets are £15 for adults and £5 for children (16 and under).

Please contact the fundraising team on 01279 773750 or email: fund@stclarehospice.org.uk To sign-up visit: stclarehospice.org.uk/walkinginmemory

Stonards Hill tennis pass

Stonards Hill Recreation Ground boasts two fantastic floodlit community tennis courts. There is a new tennis pass scheme to provide added benefits to accessing the courts.

The Stonards Hill Tennis Pass is simple and provides great value for money to enjoy tennis in Epping. By joining as a ‘Tennis Pass’ member you can expect the following benefits: Reserve your court. Online court booking up to 14 days in advance to guarantee your court (non tennis pass members receive 5 days advance booking rights).

Play after dark and play all year round? All tennis pass members will have floodlights included in your booking at no extra costs (non tennis pass members pay £1.50 per 30 minutes). Whenever you want. Play 365 days a year and a maximum of 5 times per week, up to 2 hours for each booking (non tennis pass members can play 2 times a week for up 1 hour for each booking).

The Tennis pass costs £30 for 12 months and is a great benefit to use the tennis courts all year round.

To sign up simply visit: www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/StonardsHillTennisCourts/Membership/Join

In addition to the Tennis Pass there is also a wide range of coaching provided at the courts by David Watson Tennis Coaching. Further information, including details of a weekly free tennis session, can be found by visiting www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/StonardsHillTennisCourts/Coaching. Epping Town Council are working with the LTA to develop a sustainable community tennis facility to ensure residents can enjoy these great facilities for years to come.

Skate jam event

A skate jam event was held at Stonards Hill recreation ground skate park on Friday 28th July 2023, where people could come along and join together in skating, biking and associated activities.

The event was run by Active Essex and the Red Balloon Foundation. We hope to hold similar events in the future to maximise enjoyment and activities for the community.

Epping Town Council are hoping to refurbish/replace the skate park at the request of the community, subject to the successful receipt of funding.

Epping Neighbourhood Plan

The Neighbourhood Planning Advisory Committee and Epping Town Council agreed the latest Neighbourhood Plan which was submitted earlier this year to Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) following the completion of the Local Plan.

Epping Forest District Council had some minor amendments to that version of the plan. The District Council also requested a couple of supporting documents regarding the consultation that was done and basic conditions relating to the Neighbourhood Plan.

These supporting documents and an updated Epping Neighbourhood Plan was submitted recently and is currently being considered by Epping Forest District Council to check if this latest documentation is compliant. If yes, then the Neighbourhood Plan will go to external examination and then to be voted by residents before it is adopted/made. The Neighbourhood Plan needs to conform with EFDC’s Local Plan. However, Epping Neighbourhood Plan is a separate document to the District Council’s Local Plan with more detailed information only about the Epping parish. The Neighbourhood Plan, once voted by residents, would sit alongside the District’s Local Plan as a key planning document. It will be one of the documents against which future planning applications are judged until 2033.

The Epping Neighbourhood Planning Advisory Committee is made up jointly of members of the local community and Epping Town Council. For further information about Epping Neighbourhood Planning, please visit our website: www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Are you a community group with a story to tell?

If you have a community group with a story to tell, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you if you have something Epping related to share with the community.

There are lots of fantastic community groups working for the benefit of the town and its residents. Please share details with us. Email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Epping Society: planning applications and building design

The Epping Society looks at local applications made to Epping Forest District Council (EFDC). We consider a range of factors, starting with size/scale/mass — a proposal may be too big for the site. There can be issues of overlooking and overshadowing; we are very often supporting objections from neighbours. Design is contentious and can be subjective – are there local Guidelines? Should it be vernacular (ie echo local designs)? Thus the new multistorey car park “like an East coast sail loft” does not sit well. Street scene can be important – is there an estate style (eg Theydon Grove or The Orchards); or a local character, where too great a difference can jar? Similar can apply to building materials. However sometimes a diversity provokes interest, eg with larger or civic projects; but this can be controversial too, such as the EFDC offices. Then there are questions of access, ease of use, amenity space, community fit, environmental issues. We also try to check that no planning standards are being impinged on, such as the 45-degree rule, or the front building line. Where there are “protected” structures e.g. Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas – new builds should complement the existing; either following (or in sometimes contrasting with) the existing. EFDC has a long-standing Conservation Planning Officer, who looks at these.

Lastly there is a range of locally special/unusual buildings. Examples would be our very few Art Deco houses – have a walk around, see if you can spot them! Or the remnants of an industrial past, like a joist for a winch sticking out. These features shout about the heritage of the town and should be incorporated where possible.

Anyone interested in joining the Epping Society in this task, please contact us.

A recent case of interest has been 104 High Street. Basically a Victorian cottage; but likely in the 1960s a very quirky front window was inserted, almost certainly by the then shopkeeper, Geoffrey Drayton, an upmarket high-design outlet. The bold white pop-out, redolent of Mary Quant, Flower-Power, the Beatles, etc is so unusual it has become iconic. In a redevelopment, the architect was persuaded to repair the frames and reinstate the design which Epping Society successfully put forward for an Epping Town Council Design Award.

Epping Town Council are responsible for the following: Bury Lane Cemetery, Monday Market, six recreation grounds including Stonards Hill and Lower Swaines, two allotment sites at Lower Bury Lane and Meadow Road, Epping Hall and Jack Silley Pavilion, Talk About Epping, Bakers Lane toilets, the Town Show and the Christmas Market. Tel: 01992 579444. E-mail: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Essex County Council are responsible for Highways (including roads, pavements and streetlights), Blue Badges, Bus Passes, Schools, Social Care amongst many other services. You can report Highways issues on their website at www.essex.gov.uk Tel: 0345 603 7630.

Epping Forest District Council are responsible for many services including Rubbish and Recycling, Council Tax, Housing, Elections and Benefits. Tel: 01992 564000. Website: www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk Things such as missed rubbish collections and flytipping can be reported on their website.

Epping Hall regular community activities

Mondays – Tai Chi, Perform Children’s drama, Rock Choir

Tuesdays – Community Dance

Wednesday – Postnatal pilates, Women’s Institute (once per month), Children’s karate, Adult’s karate

Thursday – Art Class, Singing Bowls (around once per month)

Friday – Yoga Hatha, Children’s ballet, Adult’s ballet, Epping at the Movies (approx 10 screenings per year)

Saturday – Epping at the Movies (around 10 screenings per year) Sunday – Life Church

Jack Silley Pavilion regular community activities

Mondays – Baby Ballet, Art Class, Illusions

Children’s Dance

Tuesdays – Basking Babies, Illusions Children’s Dance, Home Educator’s Meeting (once per month)

Wednesday – Phonic Stars, Chair yoga

Thursdays – Action for Family Carers, Sing and Sign

Fridays – U3A Art class, Illusions Children’s Dance

Saturdays – Epping Forest School of Dancing

Children

Both halls can be booked for private parties, wedding receptions, meetings and events.

www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Stonards Hill recreation ground

Stonards Hill recreation ground is one of six recreation grounds looked after by Epping Town Council. It was gifted to the people of Epping by the Silley Family, hence the Pavilion is named after Jack Silley.

There are lots of great things going on at Stonards, so do go along and enjoy this and our other green spaces. You will find tennis, football, a playground, a petanque piste, Julie’s dog-friendly café, an outdoor gym and table tennis table and much more. Our other recreation spaces are at Lower Swaines, Ivy Chimneys, Frampton Road, Brook Road and Parklands, Coopersale. They all have a children’s playground except Brook Road.

Essex Music School

Epping Forest Community Music Centre

Mondays 4pm – 6pm

Come and join us in making and learning music together in Epping!

CanalAbility

CanalAbility is a charity dedicated to providing the facilities for people with a wide range of disabilities, health conditions or anyone experiencing disadvantages to enjoy boating on the river on specially adapted canal boats. The organisation works with people of all ages as well as their families, friends and carers. We are based in Harlow, very close to Epping.

We welcome so many groups from Epping including Voluntary Action Epping Forest and Epping Youth Council, as well as many local families. We are a great fantastic inclusive and accessible option for a day out, short-break or holiday. www.canalability.org.uk

EPPING IN BLOOM

Epping in Bloom are a fun and friendly gardening group that look after the community market garden at the side of Marks & Spencer, Epping. They meet there on Friday mornings from 10am. The group also look after other selected areas around town and are always looking for new volunteers.

Email: eppinginbloom@gmail.com

We o昀er 10 weeks per term across the school year including groups and ensembles in our Rock Bands and our Epping Forest Young Singers Choir.

We also o昀er 1-to-1 lessons in piano, drums, guitars, and voice.

Epping Forest Community Music Centre, Epping St John’s School, Bury Lane, Epping,

Scan for further details and to register your interest

Website: www.essexmusichub.org.uk

Phone: 0333 013 8953

Stonards Hill recreation ground tennis courts

Don’t forget Stonards Hill recreation ground has its own tennis courts (pictured above) which can be booked for free public play during the daytime, paid for floodlit games in the evenings and for coaching with our coaching partner David Watson Tennis. Courts can be booked via Club Spark. https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/StonardsHillTennisCourts

Thank you to David Jackman for any pictures and media input in this issue. Everything Epping Forest local news and information service. Check out all the local news at: https://bit.ly/m/EverythingEppingForest

CM16 5JB

Epping Town Council information

TOWN COUNCILLORS

2023-2027

Members - Hemnall Ward

Cllr N Avey nigel.avey@btinternet.com

Cllr C Burgess christine_burgess@hotmail.com

Cllr C McCredie 07831 501598

Cllr R Sharif razsharif@icloud.com

Cllr Janet Whitehouse 01992 560289

Cllr Jon Whitehouse 01992 561875 jon@jonwhitehouse.org.uk

Members - St John’s Ward

Cllr L Burrows 01992 572003

Cllr J Duffell 07847 357493

johnduffell@live.co.uk

Cllr H Pegrum 01992 572173

Cllr G Scruton grscruton@gmail.com

Cllr H Whitbread 07508 180426 holly.whitbread@btinternet.com

Cllr M Wright 07926 516097

Cllr L Burrows, Cllr C McCredie, Cllr R Sharif, Cllr H Whitbread, Cllr Janet Whitehouse and Cllr Jon Whitehouse are also Epping Forest District Councillors.

Cllr H Whitbread is also an Essex County Councillor. MP: Dame Eleanor Laing MP (020 8508 6608) eleanor.laing.mp@parliament.uk

invitations for the m ayor

If you are organising an event which you would like the Mayor or a representative of the Town Council to attend, please email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk marked Invitation for the Mayor or tel: 01992 579444 The Mayor and Deputy Mayor attend many different events over the year to support our local groups, businesses and organisations.

ARTICLES AND PICTURES

We are always looking for Epping-related articles and pictures (high resolution) for Talk About Epping. Please send them to the email address below.

talk about epping deadlines

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

Please note: meetings are currently in-person meetings and will be held at Epping Hall unless otherwise stated.

Epping Town Council responsibilities

Consultee on Planning

Epping Town

Planning Committee consider every planning & TPO (tree protection order) application in Epping and give their views to Epping Forest District Council, who are the local planning authority.

Articles for the next edition of Talk About Epping must be submitted before 9 October 2023 (Autumn issue) and 8 January 2024 (Winter issue). Submissions should be sent to Epping Town Council via email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk clearly marked ‘Talk About Epping’. Please send in copy on a word document (200-300 words max). Please attach pictures as separate jpegs (not inserted into the word document). The editor may amend copy appropriately.

For more information, visit our new website: www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

Follow us on twitter: @eppingtown

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/epping.towncouncil