Litter picking at Swaines Green

Some local home educating families met to litter pick at Swaines Green. They were pleasantly surprised not to find as much rubbish as they anticipated but still managed to collect four bags which they sorted as best they could for recycling. Epping Library kindly supplied the litter pickers. The families plan to to do it again in the autumn.

Ashlar House art exhibition

At Ashlar House’s art exhibition, the guests were offered a glass of bubbly on arrival and all took great interest in the artwork on display. There was lots of chat, laughter and smiling faces as they wandered around. Great interest was shown in how our Creative Mojo Ltd workshops worked and the residents we worked with. Some guests liked the artwork so much they wanted to purchase some of the pieces.

Epping Town Mayor, Councillor Barbara Scruton enjoyed the exhibition, while Amelia, the Lifestyle Leader’s daughter also introduced everyone to a great art app she has been using which plays back how the art piece was made from start to finish.

Mayor opens community boxing club

A community boxing club aiming at providing facilities for teenagers has been officially opened.

Epping Community Junior Boxing Club, based at Essex Fight Academy at Forest Lodge, Epping High Road (near the Wake Arms roundabout), is run by local boxing promoter Alan Mortlock and supported by local councils, churches and other organisations.

The fully equipped boxing and fitness gym, which provides heavily subsidised training events for 13 to 18-year-olds from the Epping and Loughton area, is aimed at giving the youth a safe environment off the street. The Club was officially opened by Epping Town Mayor councillor Barbara Scruton at a ribbon cutting ceremony which was also attended by Waltham Abbey Deputy Town Mayor councillor Shane Yerrell.

Councillor Scruton said: “I particularly welcome this facility because back in 2019 the Town Council initiated the antisocial behaviour and Youth Strategy Panel, now the Safer Epping Group and it was felt at the time that a boxing facility would help young people deal with behavioural issues such as antisocial behaviour and drug abuse, but at the time we were unable to fund a suitable venue.”

She added: “The Town Council welcomes such a positive initiative in the area which, although the area seems prosperous, still has many problems and an underlying and growing problem with drugs, grooming and gang violence. We support this and other such initiatives that are a community response to rising problems of grooming, gangs and county lines.” The Town Council were delighted to be able to contribute to the discussions regarding a suitable venue.

Councillor Scruton thanked Mr Mortlock, his team, the local churches and other organisations “for coming together to help address a crucial challenge that’s affecting young people in society”.

Mr Mortlock said: “The Boxing Academy will help with discipline, confidence and urban awareness. We promote an anti-gang and knife crime message and have worked since 2016 with organisations including ‘Gangs Unite’ and ‘Box Up Crime’.

An exhibition event is planned for 26 November when there will be a full-sized boxing ring in St John’s Church, Epping.

Stonards skate park refurbishment

Epping Town Council have approved the refurbishment of the skate park at Stonards Hill recreation ground, subject to successful funding. Users of the skate park are assisting Council with the proposed design of the new skate park and they have created a petition for change so people can show their support. https://www.change.org/p/epping-forest-council-to-expandout-local-skatepark

The skate park is used by skaters as well as younger children on bikes and scooters. It has been in situ since 2007 and would benefit from improvements. Please email any comments to: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk The plans/proposals will be published once they have been designed and the project progresses.