Wickford Town News - Issue 01 November 2022

Wickford Town News

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and happy

New digital programme set to boost connectivity and inclusion in Essex

Essex County Council has launched a new £1.88 million programme to support digital connectivity and tackle digital exclusion.

Working with key partners, Digital Essex will deliver the County Council’s Digital Strategy for Essex over the next four years, in line with the Everyone’s Essex agenda.

Plans include the development of a local grant scheme to provide additional funding to reach the final one per cent of rural addresses that still cannot access decent broadband.

This investment is in addition to £14 million spent by Essex County Council on upgrading digital infrastructure across the county with its superfast broadband programme, which has so far boosted connections to 160,000 homes and businesses.

Research shows that people who do not have the access, skills and confidence to use the internet are more likely to face inequalities than those who do. By making faster broadband and mobile internet connections available, Essex County Council is aiming to

address inequalities, including employment prospects and poor mental and physical health.

Cllr Lesley WaglandOBE, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning, said:

“This funding will help to ensure that no individual or business is excluded from digital opportunities due to lack of infrastructure, affordable access, equipment, or skills.

“Enabling people to build the skills they need to be part of the business recovery is key to a stronger economy for the future. That’s why it’s so important for us to give our residents the confidence to take advantage of digital services and employment opportunities.”

Cllr Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance, said:

“This new programme launch will support digital connectivity and inclusion initiatives, which are so important for our communities. We know that a lack of access to digital skills and services can limit opportunity – this funding will help to improve outcomes for our residents.”

www.essex.gov.uk

Following its success in 2022, RideLondon, one of the world’s greatest cycling events, is returning to Essex!

Essex County Council has agreed a one-year contract with the organisers, London Marathon Events, to host the event again on Sunday 28th May 2023.

The inaugural event saw more than 22,000 cyclists participate in mass participation rides, starting in central London, travelling into Essex and returning to the capital.

The event was televised on the BBC and internationally and has already raised millions of pounds for charity, with the final total of money raised to be confirmed later in the year.

RideLondon organiser, London Marathon Events, is currently conducting a full review of the 2022 event alongside Essex County Council and other stakeholders. Feedback from residents, businesses and parish, district, town and city councils will help shape the event for 2023.

The first 10,000 places in RideLondonEssex 100 2023 opened on Wednesday 28th September. The route will be announced later this year.

Available grants and funding

Hosting RideLondon-Essex enables organisations in Essex to benefit from significant funding from the London Marathon Charitable Trust (The Trust) –the parent charity of the event organisers, London Marathon Events.

£1 million has already been allocated to Essex in 2022 by The

Trust for projects that will inspire activity, support people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport and physical activity and increase participation. RideLondon-Essex 2022, has led to a new strategic funding partnership between Active Essex, Active Essex Foundation and London Marathon Charitable Trust (LMCT).

Find Your Active Fund

As part of Active Essex’s successful Find Your Active campaign, The Trust is powering a small grants programme to support Essexwide projects that help residents lead active and healthy lives.

Any organisation from Essex, Southend, Thurrock can apply for this funding and the money can be used to start up new activities or increase the numbers attending existing activities, all with the aim of getting more people active.

Find out more online via www.activeessex.org/find-your-active/fund

Essex School Active Travel Grant

The Essex School Active Travel Grant will offer schools the opportunity to be creative, solve their own problems and create new opportunities that work for their school community. Eligible schools will be able to apply for funding to help start, expand, or enhance their active travel offer to enable and inspire more children and families to travel actively to and from school.

Find out more and apply for the Essex School Active Travel Grant by going online via www.activeessex.org/children-youngpeople/essex-school-active-travel-grant

A Local Service, Saving You Money.

As a leading domestic glass replacement company for more than 16 years, Cloudy2Clear windows are the leading name in the industry. There is no need for you to risk your windows by using the dreaded double glazing cowboy down the street. You can join over 336,000 happy customers and replace your glass ethically and affordably. If you have a failed glass unit, it may not provide you with the protection you need or be as energy-efficient as it once was. Take a minute to check your home to see if any double glazing has failed? Taking action now can prevent future financial problems.

When talking to the Manager of Cloudy2Clear windows Chris Miller it became clear that these

values have been held dear for a number of years. Since starting the business some years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their core values of supporting the local community by providing a service that saves the public money.

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the unit has failed. Chris commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help once again”.

For a free quotation please call 0800 61 21 118 or visit www. cloudy2clear.co.uk.

me about

Visitors impressed by new front entrance facilities at Basildon Hospital

An impressive redesign of Basildon Hospital’s front entrance is offering visitors, patients and staff more facilities and a brighter welcome.

The new area includes a Costa Coffee, M&S Food, fashion retailer StockShop and WHSmith, which now delivers an onsite Post Office.

And some of those first people to use it have been impressed by the new spacious area, shops and facilities.

Cheryl Nicholls, from Corringham, was thrilled by the new facilities, she said:

“Everything is so easy to find, it’s so much better, more welcoming as a visitor and has more choice.”

Whilst Stuart Batterham, from Norfolk, also liked the new light and bright entrance. He said:

“It’s an incredible space, which is a really nice place to chill. It feels more like a mall than a hospital.”

It also offers a new bereavement and patient advice and liaison service suite, a refurbished multi-faith room, new admin space and a welcoming hub for Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jonathan Dunk, said:

“The old front entrance has been here since 1972 and was in vital need of change to bring us into the 21st century. We still have some decorative work to finish but this is an important milestone in the project which will complete this autumn, and a lot of hard work and effort has gone into getting us here.

“The new two-storey building creates a more accessible, welcoming and modern main entrance that will meet the needs of our patients, staff and the local community for many years to come.”

The scheme was created in partnership with specialist developer Noviniti, which has delivered similar projects at other hospitalssuch as Colchester, Poole and Northampton - and WHSmith, which will operate the retail units.

Noviniti have funded the £7.6 million cost of the new main entrance, with rent from the retail outlets paying for the project. The full costs of the build are covered by the retailer contribution, which is also expected to provide a further financial benefit to the Trust as facilities become fully operational. No NHS capital or revenue has been used to deliver this facility.

During the second phase of work, the old tower block reception will be refurbished, and a pharmacy unit built within the space. Gardeners will also landscape the area to the front of the hospital, with work expected to be completed later in the autumn.

The

Academy

‘JUST SMILE AND WAVE, BOYS. SMILE AND WAVE’ WITH THE PAULINE QUIRKE ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS

PQA Wickford is a dedicated performing arts Academy at Bromfords School & Sixth Form College in Wickford, with classes for children and young adults in Comedy & Drama, Musical Theatre (singing & dancing) and Film & Television.

Operating from a larger, flexible space, Principal of PQA Wickford is proud to be promoting the PQA ethos of everyone having a chance to shine with no child ever being ‘shoved to the back’ whilst the same ‘favourites’ are at the front in every performance. The focus is on ensemble work, working as part of a team, and becoming the best you can possibly be through stimulating and fun lessons that capture the imagination and inspire all our students.

Our teachers have all worked professionally in the entertainment industry and are keen to share their knowledge with a new generation of performers, directors, film-makers, choreographers, writers, singers, dancers!

Latest news from PQA Wickford

Award-winning Food Fight

The students were recently involved with the award-winning film ‘Food Fight’ and are very excited to be invited to spend the day at Paramount Studios in December where they can see the studios and have a Q&A with staff there, before choosing to watch a film from Paramount’s vast archive.

Paramount were the sponsors of the Best Film category at the Into Film Festival, which our students won!

For more info head to www.pqacademy.com

Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Junior at The Chelmsford Main Theatre

Both our Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon academies are really looking forward to performing Madagascar Junior at The Chelmsford Main Theatre on Sunday 22nd January. The Saturday morning academy will perform the 1:15pm matinee; the Saturday afternoon academy will perform the 6:30pm evening show.

Take a musical journey out of Central Park Zoo and onto the stage with your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends from the blockbuster DreamWorks film.

Join Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman, and the hilarious plotting penguins as they find themselves on an unexpected journey to King Julien’s Madagascar.

Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar JR. will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”

For tickets head to www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk/events/ madagascar-a-musical-adventure-jr

Town

Wickford Foodbank

The Churches Together Group created the Wickford Foodbank in 2013, and over the years we have helped hundreds of families in our community.

We have received wonderful support from many individuals, community groups, businesses, schools and organisations and currently serve between 40-50 households every week from the Wickford Salvation Army Hall on a Thursday morning.

We are always grateful to receive donations of tinned items - vegetables, fruit, fish and meat. Our guests are also grateful for long life milk, tea, coffee, cooking sauces and toiletries.

If you would like to donate to the foodbank, we have arranged weekly collections from a few donations’ points in our locality:

• Co-Op at St Luke’s Park pass your bagged donations to a store assistant and items are collected weekly.

• Tesco on Southend Road – place items into the donations box by the entrance doors

• CostCutter in Shotgate – place items into the donations box in store.

• The Salvation Army Hall, Jersey Gardens on a Wednesday between 2-3pm.

• Wickford Christian Centre, Crouch Drive on a Tuesday between 10am and 12pm.

For more information, please visit our Facebook page: Wickford Foodbank, or leave a message on 01268 769761

New Morrisons in Wickford Town Centre

At a meeting of Basildon Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday 28 September 2022, plans were approved for the demolition of the recently vacated Cooperative store in Wickford Town Centre and erection of new store, Morrisons. Morrisons are a supermarket chain selling food, grocery and household items as well as toiletries, newspapers and magazines. They also have a pharmacy, cafe and cash machine facilities.

The new development will see an associated home delivery pod, rear service yard and plant equipment, reconfiguration and resurfacing of the existing car park to provide vehicle and cycle spaces, improvement works to pedestrian and structured landscaping, and replacement tree planting.

Councillor Richard Moore, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure said

“The development of a new Morrisons in Wickford Town Centre is extremely positive and has been widely supported by Wickford’s residents. Not only will it be a larger and more established store, the new building will also enhance the appearance of the site.

“The new store will hugely increase footfall, generate new jobs for residents while supporting wider objectives on the regeneration of Wickford Town Centre. We will keep residents updated on when works are due to commence.”

www.basildon.gov.uk

A Slow Sense of Autumn

Autumn is a time of transformation. It’s the season where the landscape changes with one last flare of colour and bounty before the long dark winter days roll in. Some people travel all over the world in a practice known as “leaf-peeping” to see the changing foliage as the trees transform into spectacular shades of red, yellow, and orange.

The poet John Keats wrote “To Autumn” which personifies the season as a figure conspiring with the sun:

“ To bend with apples the mossed cottage trees And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees” Keats’ image of autumn is one of overflow and fruition, of hopes realised and the hidden seed fulfilling its potential. This view is realised in Christian Harvest Festivals and the modern pagan sabbat of Mabon, which usually take place at the end of September in the days surrounding the autumn equinox. Both traditions are times of thankfulness, with communities coming together to appreciate a good harvest and contemplate the passing of time.

In the last few years, the UK’s idea of autumn has been heavily influenced by American traditions surrounding Halloween, giving a darker, spookier

theme to the season. Even Keats’ idyllic vision lends itself to more gothic interpretations: what other, forgotten seeds are also bearing fruit, what other, deeply buried things are also being uncovered? Christina Rossetti’s poem “Goblin Market” counters Keats’ romanticism with her verse warning two girls about the dangers of the unknown coming to light: “ We must not look at goblin men, We must not buy their fruits: Who knows upon what soil they fed Their hungry, thirsty roots?”

Even without these darker interpretations, autumn still lends itself to introspection and melancholy. Summer is ended, the holidays are over, and all too soon the shops are full of tinsel and mince pies, the season finished before it’s even begun, shouldered aside for its more lucrative cousin, Christmas. Even though capitalism is hardly something to praise, in this instance it has brought some benefits, as once businesses realised there was money to be made in marketing autumn as a product, they threw themselves into ensuring seasonal merchandise filled the shelves for as long as possible. Despite the mercenary origins of the bonfire-scented candles, maple leaf wreaths, and impossibly tiny gourds, at least they encourage us to slow down and enjoy this mellow, contradictory, pumpkin-spiced season while it’s still here.

E-Scooters - What are the rules?

You’ve probably seen a number of e-scooters zipping around your local area, and if they are rented as part of an approved trial by the council that’s fine, however, privately owned e-scooters are different.

If you use an e-scooter illegally, you could face a fine and penalty points on your licence, and the e-scooter could be impounded, so it’s best to brush up on the rules before heading out.

The umbrella term “powered transporters” is used to cover a number of personal transport devices that are powered by a motor, including e-scooters which have risen in popularity as of late, as well as Segways, hoverboards, go-peds, powered unicycles, and u-wheels.

Given how powered transporters are motorised and designed, they fall within the legal definition of a “motor vehicle”. Therefore, the laws that apply to motor vehicles apply to powered transporters.

It is illegal to use a powered transporter:

• on a public road without complying with a number of legal requirements, which potential users will find very difficult

• In spaces that are set aside for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders; this includes on the pavement and in cycle lanes

Any person who uses a powered transporter on a public road or other prohibited space in breach of the law is committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted.

It is legal to use a powered transporter: • on private land with the permission ofthe land owner

For example, if you or a friend has a ratherlarge back garden and you have theirpermission then riding an e-scooter ispermitted, however, it is an offence to usepowered transporters on the pavement.

Given how powered transporters are motorised and designed, they fall within the legal definition of a “motor vehicle”. Therefore, the laws that apply to motor vehicles apply to powered transporters.

In addition, powered transporters are forbidden from using footpaths.

For motor vehicles to use public roads lawfully, they must meet a number of different requirements. These include insurance; conformity with technical standards and standards of use; payment of vehicle tax, licensing, and registration; driver testing and licensing; and the use of relevant safety equipment.

However, it is likely that they will find it very difficult to comply with all of these requirements, meaning that it would be a criminal offence to use them on the road.

The potential consequences are severe for misuse of an e-scooter, ranging from fine and penalty points to disqualification from driving, and those under the influence of drink and drugs can find their actions leading to imprisonment.

know the rules before purchasing and using

Basildon ranks 2nd for the most affordable childcare in the UK, new research reveals

beds and funding to help homeless individuals with rental deposits.

Over the past two years, we have developed a partnership with nine city, borough and district councils including Braintree.

The research by Electric Ride on Cars looked into the cost of a month’s childcare in cities around the UK to reveal the most affordable (& most expensive) cities for childcare.

Best cities for affordable childcare

Rank City Cost of childcare per month

1 Southend-on-Sea £390.00

2 Basildon £500.00

3 Worcester £520.00

4 Leicester £536.00

5 Chatham £546.67

6 Plymouth £550.00

7 Bradford £550.00

8 Bolton £600.00

9 Blackpool £600.83

10 Stoke - on - Trent £633.33

Southend-on-Sea provides the most affordable childcare, with an average cost of £390 per month. This is considerably lower than Basildon (the next cheapest town) where it costs £500 per month.

You can view the full research here: www.electricrideoncars.co.uk/best-citiesfor-families

£1.7m awarded to Essex councils to tackle homelessness

Almost £1.7m of funding has been awarded to a partnership of ten Essex councils via the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI). This will be used to support rough sleepers transition from the streets and into sustained accommodation.

The 2022-25 fund will be targeted at local support for those who are homeless. It will include additional outreach workers, support to access mental health services, emergency

This partnership seeks to reduce people sleeping rough by providing support via a Rough Sleeper Outreach Team, which builds relationships and trust with rough sleepers. The funding, alongside ECC’s wider work on homelessness and rough sleeping, helps to achieve the aims of our Everyone’s Essex Strategy, to promote the health, care, and wellbeing of all residents across the county. If you have concern about someone sleeping rough in Essex, please visit www.streetlink.org.uk

University of Essex gets third sport for top university in East Anglia

The Times & Sunday Times has just released its greatly anticipated, official Good University Guide for 2023.

It is the definitive guide to the country’s universities, which ranks them based on various factors, including graduate employment and teaching quality.

From this guide, the top University in East Anglia has just been revealed as the University of Cambridge with Essex University finishing third.

Credit- The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gooduniversity-guide-in-full-tp6dzs7wn

Wickford Town

Essex County Council statement on Energy Bill Relief Scheme

Cllr Lesley Wagland OBE, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning, said: “Businesses across Essex have been understandably extremely worried about the rising cost of energy, so the announcement of the Government’s Energy Relief Bill is most welcome.

The event includes rides, Santa’s grottos in Eastgate and the market, food stalls, free festive mini-golf, and the famous Bavarian Market with German sausages and mulled wine on offer all day.

There will also be live performances on the Gateway 97.8 stage in St Martin’s Square and in Eastgate, with acrobatic shows, dubstepping elves, comedy carol singing, and vintage vocal performances.

Acts on Gateway 97.8 stage will include Chas and Dave tribute RABBIT RABBIT, Basildon Pride, and Basildon’s own Aerial Allstars will be performing in Eastgate.

“Businesses had been facing a perfect storm of rising energy bills, increasing prices for materials and supply as well rising costs for their employees. This intervention from the Government is much needed and will make a real difference to firms across Essex, as well as public sector organisations such as ourselves.

“At ECC we’ve been clear of the need for support for businesses on energy bills and we have already produced a summary of support services, which may be able to help businesses during this difficult period. This will continue to be updated as more support becomes available. I would encourage all businesses in Essex to find out more at: www.essex.gov.uk/cost-of-doing-business

“Firms which are looking to review their finances can also receive support directly through our Backing Essex Business service by visiting www.backingessexbusiness.co.uk”

Basildon at Christmas event is back for 2022

This year’s Basildon at Christmas event will be on Saturday 19th November, starting at 10am with activities and entertainment across the whole town centre including The Eastgate Centre, Town Square and St Martin’s Square, where the event will conclude with a fireworks display at 6pm.

Some of the activities in the town centre will be for the Saturday only, but the Grotto in Eastgate, and the Bavarian Market in the town square (which includes the various food and drink stands as well as the free crazy golf), will be staying there until Christmas Eve.

The event is a partnership between Basildon Council, The Eastgate Centre, Gateway 97.8, Basildon Town Centre Management (BTCM), and BasildON Creative People and Places.

Money saving reward scheme launched in Essex 36 businesses across Essex have so far signed up for a pilot scheme to reward local shoppers on their purchases.

Essex+ is a free reward card or app that can be used across participating businesses in Essex.

The scheme, funded by Essex County Council and delivered by partners Reward It, is targeted at supporting shoppers with increased living costs by providing reward points to get a little bit extra back.

Customers can sign up for an Essex+ card in any participating store or premises. You’ll only need to register one card, which you’ll be able to use across all participating businesses, with rewards and offers unique to each business that issues them.

To collect an Essex+ card, please visit a participating business in Basildon: Motivated Minds

WICKFORD MEMORIAL PARK OFFERS PLENTY OF TRANQUIL WOODLAND FOR THOSE WHO FANCY A REFLECTIVE WALK THROUGH ITS GROUNDS. THE TOWN CENTRE, ONLY A FIVE MINUTE WALK FROM THE CARE HOME, IS HOME TO PLENTY OF CAFÉS, RESTAURANTS AND WILLOWS SHOPPING CENTRE,

The People

What to do in the garden in Autumn

November is a beautiful month of autumnal colours and first frosts. Crisp, blue-sky days are the perfect time to tidy up and cut back in the garden. If you grow fruit and veg, there’s still plenty to harvest and store for the cold winter months ahead.

In the flower garden

• Lift dahlia tubers, begonia tubers and gladioli corms to store over the winter months. Remove any dead foliage before storing them.

• You can take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs now.

• Prune rambling and climbing roses once they’ve finished flowering, and tie in the stems before autumn winds cause damage.

• Clear up fallen rose leaves to prevent diseases such as black spot from over-wintering. To avoid the spread of damaging fungi, don’t compost the leaves.

• Clear overhanging plants from pathways to maintain access around the garden.

Looking after your lawn

• Clear up fallen leaves regularly to allow light to the grass.

• A last mowing can be made this month before leaving your lawn for the winter.

• Recut any lawn edges if needed. Install lawn edging to make future maintenance easier.

• Aerate your lawn with a garden fork to avoid waterlogging and compaction over winter.

• Rake any thatch from the surface and repair dead patches. There’s still time to layfresh turf if required.

• Cut back perennial plants that have died down. Alternatively leave the dead foliage in place to shelter friendly wildlife.

• After tidying borders, mulch with bark chips, well rotted manure, leaf mould or spent mushroom compost to insulate plant roots for the winter and keep weed growth in check.

• This month is the ideal time to plant hedges, edible hedging, and move trees and shrubs.

Timely tips

Here are some of the main jobs thisautumn:

• If your greenhouse is fairly empty, now’sa good time to clean and disinfect it.This lets in more light, and preventspests and diseases from over-wintering.

• Protect half-hardy plants with fleece orbring them into a frost-free greenhouse.

• Sweep up any fallen leaves that harbourfungal spores and provide ideal hidingplaces for slugs and snails. Use them tomake leaf mould for the garden.

• Lift and divide any overcrowdedherbaceous perennials whilst the soil isstill warm.

From your armchair

• Take stock of this year’s garden and make a few notes or sketches for next spring. You’ll be surprised how useful these are when you start ordering seeds and plants for next year!

• Take snapshots with your camera or phone of where herbaceous plants are located before they die back so you don’t damage their roots during a winter dig.

• Capture images of borders you’d like to replicate, or areas of the garden that need improving. Start a photo diary to record your garden’s journey.

• Place online orders for fruit trees, fruit plants and hardy perennial plants — November to spring is the ideal time to plant them.

This November, enjoy the autumnal colours in the garden Image: Liquidambar styraciflua from Thompson & Morgan

Winter is coming be CAReful

The season of winter brings with it the much-anticipated festivities, family filled feast, sharing of presents, mince pies, Toblerone, mulled wine, the spectacle of snowfall, Santa and his red nosed pet, etc.

It’s easy to get excited about winter’s arrival but it’s also crucial to get prepared. Yeah if you like Chris Rea plan to be ‘Driving home for Christmas’ or anywhere in fact then it’s worth taking note and acting on the following tips.

The obvious

Titled the obvious as these are things that are always worth checking no matter the season, and any motorist worth their weigh in salt (or grit seems more appropriate) will be doing on a regular basis.

Oil – Always check your oil level is between the minimum and maximum mark on your car’s dipstick and top up if necessary.

Tyres - Check your tyres for general wear and tears, cracks, splits or bulges, and most importantly, tread depth. Though the minimum tread level is 1.6mm, during winter it’s advisable to have 3mm of tread on your tyres to help with traction and grip.

Coolant - Check your car’s coolant level. The last thing you need is a frozen engine or for your car to overheat.

The less obvious

Windscreen wipers – in some countries it’s advised that motorists change to a specialist winter windscreen wiper to be best prepared for the snow but here in the south east of old blighty that isn’t completely necessary but it is worth noting that windscreen wipers, unlike diamonds are not forever and will need changing from time to time. So, give them a visual once over for splits and cracks and see if they are effective at clearing your screen and replace as necessary.

Electrics – lights are necessary in the dark days of winter and will need to illuminate the road ahead of you for your own and others’ safety. As well as this it’s advised that check the battery. If your battery is over four years old it may be getting to the end of its life and it could let you down when the harsh winter

takes hold so it’s worth getting it tested by a garage. The RAC advise that if you are having your battery tested, ask a garage to check the charging system and the drain on your battery – this will give a better picture of your car’s overall electrical health.

Locks – it’s all very well and good doing all of the above but occasionally if frost arrives in the AM you may find that you can’t even get into your vehicle to move it as the locks might freeze over. If you don’t have the luxury of a fob then it is worth applying lube to the door and boot locks as well as lubricating the weather stripping inside the door itself so you’re not left stranded outside in the cold.

Despite all of these common sense preparations it’s very possible your car may still breakdown so it’s worth getting breakdown cover sorted and if you should suffer the dreaded fate of a breakdown an emergency kit will make the whole experience less of an ordeal.

An emergency kit may sound over the top but you’ll be grateful for it if you ever find yourself stranded.

New £50m support for Essex residents to help with the cost of living

A new raft of measures and money to help families battle against increasing cost of living pressures has been announced by Essex County Council (ECC)

The plans include £17 million of government cash to help households pay for insulation and other energy saving improvements at home, a community led ‘winter warmth and welcome’ campaign to provide local places for winter warmth over the coming months, including a grant scheme to help groups fund activities, and additional funding to help vulnerable people with essential costs.

The full range of the £50m support is outlined in the Council’s Cost of Living Support for Households and Communities Plan (PDF, 2.95MB), which aims to help those needing immediate support.

Through the plan, ECC brings together partners, charities and organisations to tackle the issues residents are facing. It also maps the wider support being delivered across the county.

The Council’s approach is based on three pillars – Response, Resilience and Root causes, along with a six-point plan to support residents.

A number of support initiatives are already underway. This plan will continue to evolve and will respond to the changing needs of people and communities in Essex While these measures will offer immediate relief to residents in difficulty, ECC is also looking at the medium and long term, building resilience and looking at the root causes of cost-of-living pressures, such as access to skills and good jobs.

Cllr Louise McKinlay, the County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance, said: “We know people across the country are struggling and many are really worried about how they are going to cope with the rise in the cost of living.

“We understand the challenges many are faced with, and tackling this crisis is a key priority for us, so people have access to the food, heating and essential items they need.

“Our Cost of Living Support for Households and Communities plan highlights how we will be funding and mobilising support across the county - how we will help people keep warm, eat and keep well and happy this winter, and beyond. We will also be providing valuable advice and guidance to communities to help them, help themselves.

“Even though these short-term solutions will make a difference in the ‘here and now’, we recognise that it is essential that support

measures

a

Further

ECC

In

Can you celebrate bonfire night without the bang?

‘Remember, remember the 5th November, Gunpowder Treason and plot, We see no reason, Why gunpowder treason, Should ever be forgot!’

And alas, the foiled plan by Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot has never been forgotten.

Sparklers:

We’ve all held a sparkler and witnessed the joy such a small object can bring. It lights up the face of both adults and children alike, quite literally and metaphorically. They are always easy to obtain, cheap and carry little danger; but of-course supervision is always required.

Confetti poppers: For those wanting a more timid and tame bang for their celebration, why not invest in some confetti poppers, you can get some extremely large and joyful party poppers that cost the same or even less than many of the fireworks on sale, plus who doesn’t love the mess left after a confetti cannon?

Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, is a tradition held on 5th November, synonymous with fireworks, loud bangs and of course; bonfires.

Some children are scared of fireworks, let alone the safety issue, and we know it can be devastating for wildlife and even our own pets at home, so can you still celebrate without the crackle and thunderous bang of modern fireworks?

The answer is a pleasing yes; there a few steps you can take to make your evening as family-friendly as possible.

Low noise fireworks: You might have heard these being described as ‘silent’ fireworks, but they are actually ‘low noise fireworks’, and they work wonderfully for families who still want to enjoy the spectacle of a firework display but don’t want to disrupt the wildlife and their own loves ones.

These are just some very simple ideas you can incorporate into your celebrations if you are concerned about the noise levels from modern fireworks. If you feel like we’ve left out some obvious ideas, get in touch and let us know how you will be celebrating this November.

Build a Guy Fawkes Scarecrow: Keeping the tradition alive is always important, and what better way to keep it exciting than building your very own mini Guy Fawkes scarecrow. Stuff some old tights with newspaper, get some raggedy old clothes and straw, use a pillow case or football for the head and you’re good to go. You could even turn your Guy Fawkes scarecrow into a pinata if you had the extra time and know-how.

What’s Up, Doc?

November health awareness is about more than firework and bonfire safety - it’s the month of Movember, Veg Pledge, for cancer research, being kind and more!

From ditching the shave to switching your faves, there are all sorts of changes and campaigns to join in with this month to make some steps to a healthier you, and a happier community. Below are a few exciting examples to get you going.

Mo problem

Movember began 19 years ago in a bar in Melbourne, Australia when, over a pint, two blokes wondered if they could make the unfashionable moustache popular again by getting 30 of their mates to grow one and raise money for prostate cancer at the same time. Movember is now recognised as the leading international men’s health charity, additionally addressing testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Over five million moustaches have been cultivated, more than half a billion pounds raised worldwide, and over 1,250 men’s health projects have been funded since those first whiskers appeared on Australian upper lips in 2003 (and yes, the moustache is firmly back in fashion). Movember 2022 features the classic grow-a-tache target plus a 60km Move for Movember challenge. Find out more at uk.movember.com

Veg out for charity

With World Vegan Day on November 1st, what better time to take the Veg Pledge, go vegetarian or vegan for the whole month and raise money for Cancer Research UK? Cutting out animal proteins can save money and help improve your health, particularly your gut, as you’ll be eating much more bowelfriendly fibre. Good plant alternatives to meat include soy, seitan, tofu and Quorn, and there are lots of delicious recipe ideas and tips on the Cancer Research UK website to explore. Find out more at cancerresearchuk.org

Put your money where your mouth is Mouth (oral) cancer claims more lives each year than cervical and testicular cancer combined. It’s twice as common in men than women, with most cases occurring in

the over 60s. The most common symptoms are an ulcer that won’t heal and persistent pain or swelling in the mouth. Cutting down on alcohol and smoking hugely reduces your risk, and regular self-checks and visits to the dentist are really important because early diagnosis means a high chance of a complete cure. In Mouth Cancer Action Month there’s a virtual 10k challenge to get involved in, plus Blue Wednesday’s self-check day on November 16th – find out more at dentalhealth.org/mouthcancer

It’s a kind of magic

Make the planet a happier place on November 13th – it’s World Kindness Day, run by the World Kindness Movement for over 20 years to put the spotlight on good deeds and kind acts. Psychologists at Sussex University have found that reward areas in the brain are more active when people are kind, even when they’re acting purely altruistically – it turns out that warm glow of kindness is real! Being kind also reduces blood pressure, stress and anxiety, and makes your body produce oxytocin, the “love hormone”, which helps keep your heart healthy. So being kind to others is being kind to yourself, too. Find out more at kindnessuk.com

November Health Awareness Events

Movember Lung Cancer Awareness Month Mouth Cancer Action Month Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Veg Pledge Month Global Prebiotics Week 1-6th Anti-bullying Week 11-14th Gerd Awareness Week 23rd – 29th Self Care Week 14-20th World Vegan Day 1st National Stress Awareness Day 2nd World Let’s Stop Shouting Day 6th World Kindness Day 13th World Diabetes Day 14th Blue Wednesday 16th World COPD Day 18th International Men’s Day 19th World Toilet Day 19th

About the author: Gill Mullins is a freelance writer and journalist at www.superhappycontent.com

Save The Planet

Think of a world before man came along!

Think of the trees and plants…No artificial fertilisers then, so how did trees and plants grow and grow, and not run out of soil food?

The laves that fall every autumn are a rich source of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Leaves are broken down by worms, insects and microbes, creating a nutrient rich soil. Leaves also provide a habitat for beneficial insects and small mammals. They greatly increase the soil’s capacity to hold water, (leaf mulch holds 3 to 5 times more water than soil… Rivalling peat moss which of course we would never use now).

We may be convinced that we need this or that soil improver, it’s easy to forget that most of what we really need is already provided by nature, once we understand how it works!

So, the leaves fall, beautiful to see, then lie on the ground, what then? You could just leave them, but on lawns and paths they may be slippery, and could be better used elsewhere.

So, ideas?

1. On your lawn, mow the leaves on a high setting:

Then you could decide to leave them and allow the leaves to act as lawn food, a finer cut may be ever better for this. The worms and microbes will regard these tasty leaves as a feast and break them down!

FREE lawn fertiliser!

Add to your compost, because you have cut them up, they will break down faster. Add straight onto flower beds as a food, not directly over plants in leaf, but spread over the soil, they will also protect tender plants over the coldest times. Pop into bags and leave in a corner to break down into a fine mulch.

2. If you have lots of leaves and are really very busy…IT’S OK!

Remember Nature copes. It knows what to do, even without our help, (perhaps far better).

You can just brush your leaves onto a flower border. Avoid piling them on top of green leaves, and, make a space for those plants.

Or simply rake or brush leaves up and pile them up under trees, hedges and shrubs, as deep as 30cms (one foot) is absolutely fine, it really is! These leaves will have broken down to less than 10cms (a few inches) by spring and protected the shrubs from cold over winter AND will provide those trees and shrubs with perfect nutrition over next year’s growing season. FOR FREE!!!

It is worth noting to never bank leaves up against tree trunks…place them doughnut style, so the stem does not become damp.

3. LOVE YOUR LEAVES!

Autumn leaves are beautiful, totally natural, feed our soil, our plants, hedges, trees, plus our worms, and they shelter our wildlife.

They are free food for our gardens, and all we have to do is leave them to get on with it. Wonderful!

1 Nesbit Close, Wickford, Essex SS12 0PT ~ Tel 01268 761022 ~ Mobile 07901 948745

Email: engleman@businessadvisoressex.co.uk Website: www.businessadvisoressex.co.uk

OPEN FOR BUSINESS 7 DAYS

Will Writer’s Words of Wisdom Red for Danger / Green for Safety

If a married couple dies together, and where there is no Will, the eldest is deemed to have died first, so only the family members of the surviving spouse will inherit

A beneficiary or their spouse should not be a witness to a Will, or they will disinherit themselves

Unless it has a contemplation of marriage clause, marriage or re-marriage invalidates a Will, requiring a new arrangement

Without a Will, spouses and civil partners are NOT automatically entitled to all of the estate assets on death

Without a Will, the Government could inherit your estate if you die with no surviving traceable relatives

Without a Will, the Rules of Intestacy, ie ‘The Government Will’, could land the children with a 40% IHT (Inheritance Tax) liability

Even if an estate is less than £5,000, Probate may still be required re lifetime gifts in the preceding 7 years, so take legal advice

If you have no surviving parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles or aunts, then under the Intestacy Rules, the whole estate goes to the Crown or the Duchy of Lancaster or the Duke of Cornwall

A properly worded Will could ensure that half the value of your home is potentially protected against Local Authority care home fees

Always appoint charities as your final beneficiaries, to avoid your estate being claimed by the Government

By the use of a Property Protection Trust, you can ensure that if you pre-decease and your spouse re-marries and has more children, your own children benefit from your share of your home, and not the new spouse

If children have special care needs, an appropriate ‘Disabled Discretionary Trust’ could avoid loss of State benefits on inheriting your estate

If you own property abroad, you should arrange a Will in that country, to avoid costly fees and Probate delay

The estates of current or retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to exemption from Inheritance Tax if they die on active service, or if their later death was caused by an injury or disease that was received or aggravated while they were on active service. This was extended in the 2014 Budget to members of the police, fire and ambulance services and emergency service personnel and humanitarian aid workers

There is no Inheritance Tax liability if the deceased spouse has left their entire estate to their surviving spouse or civil marriage partner Provide in your Will for continuity of your business on your death

Principal: Engleman Wills + Powers of Attorney + Probate + Equity Release

Associate of The Institute of Professional Will Writers Estate Planning Legal Specialist with APS Legal & Associates Ltd

Member of the Society of Mortgage Professionals, the Personal Finance Society and the Chartered Insurance Institute

MARTIN ENGLEMAN AIPW AFPC DipPFS Certs CII (MP & ER) (Mortgage Practice & Equity Release)

What’s On

Top Gun: Maverick- Drive in Movie

Saturday 12th November, 9:00pm at Barleylands Craft Village

Wickford at Christmas Street Fayre

Sunday 27th November, 12 noon at Wickford High St. Kick off the festive season on Sunday 27th November in Wickford High Street! FREE to attend but donations in buckets would be amazing please!

It’s the one that everyone has been waiting for... for over 35 years! Top Gun: Maverick the long awaited Top Gun sequel starring Tom Cruise. Come and join Moonbeamers Popup Cinema at the Drive In for this high adrenaline, fast-paced movie with superb effects and exhilarating sound. An incredible movie and perfect to watch at Moonbeamers Drive In Cinema. Book now online via www.moonbeamers.co.uk/whats-on/topgun-maverick-12-11-2022

We don’t expect these to last long!

Robbie Williams Tribute Show

Saturday 12th November, 7:00pm at The Billericay Theatre

Scott Borley is bringing his fabulous Robbie Williams tribute show to The Billericay Theatre and we can’t wait!

Let him totally entertain you with all the hits from across the years. Cabaret seating – Table service – Food served from our ‘Theatre Bites’ menu throughout. Doors 7pm/Show 8pm Tickets £24

For tickets, go online and visit www.tickettailor.com/events/ thebillericaytheatre/705939

On the day you can expect a gift fair, food and drink stalls and of course, a visit from Santa! There will be entertainment all day on the main stage, rides and fun for all the family. The Street Fair and Wickford’s Christmas lights display are paid for by you, the public and businesses.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/wickfordatchristmas

New Wickford Market

Saturdays, 8am – 4pm at High Street and Market Lane, Wickford, Essex SS12 9AZ Featuring traders with a variety of stalls including a fishmonger, artisan bread bakery and fashion.

Events At Wickford

Library

(Unit 8, The Willows, Market Rd, Wickford SS12 0RA)

TEC Mates

Every Monday, 2pm-4pm Volunteer-led drop-in session to help you learn new digital skills and give you the confidence to use technology.

Computer provided, or bring your own device.

For more information, enquire at the library or contact TEC Mates: admin@BBWCVS.org.uk or call 01268 294 124

Wickford Town

Baby and Toddler Rhymetime

Every Monday, 10am – 10:30am and 11am – 11:30am

Free your child’s imagination with songs and stories, give their early communication skills a boost and have fun together!

Citizens Advice Drop-In Service

Every Monday, 9:30am – 4pm Video advice access point to connect to the South Essex Citizens Advice Bureau.

Us4Learning IT Club

Every Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm Free IT help and advice For more information, inquire at the library or contact Us4Learning:us4learning@gmail.com Regular sessions are suspended at the moment due to lack of attendance, but customers are encouraged to contact the library if they are interested in meeting with the group.

Hearing Help Essex Support Session

Computer, web-camera, and telephone link provided – ask library staff to show you to the discrete location. (Please note, this is a virtual service, not an in-person service).

For more information, enquire at the library or contact Citizens Advice South Essex 0808 278 7877

Knit and Natter

Every Thursday, 10am – 12 noon Drop-in sessions for a knit and a chat. From beginner to advanced – all welcome. Share your ideas and bring along your projects. Sessions may be limited by space. For more information contact Wickford Library.

Every third Thursday of the month, 2pm – 4pm Hearing Help Essex is able to offer appointments in a Covid-safe environment if your hearing aids are due maintenance, or the tubing is brittle, cracked, blocked, or damaged. Appointments must be booked in advance and walk-ins cannot be accepted. If you are housebound, shielding, or immobile, please ask about our doorstep service. Appointments can be made by contacting Hearing Help Essex: Telephone: 01245 496347 Text: 07950 406173 Email: info@hearinghelpessex.org.uk

Wickford Community Archive Memory Desk

Every second Saturday of the month, 10am – 12 noon

Members of the Wickford Community Archive Group will be on hand: to show people how to access and use the website; to scan photographs for including on the website; to take the names of those people who would like to have their memories recorded; and to listen to people remembering early days of our community.

For more information, visit www.wickfordhistory.org.uk

Warm-Up with Filling Family Meals

With the transition into the cooler autumnal months, it won’t be long until winter is here and we’re all faced with long dreary winter nights.

Times like these call for comforting, hearty meals that taste just as delicious as they look!

Filling recipes like pasta and chilli make the season a great excuse to spend more quality time with those you love so here’s to enjoying the handpicked recipes below.

Mac n Cheese

Ingredients

225g uncooked macaroni

50g butter

2 1/2 tbsps plain flour

275g grated mature Cheddar cheese

50g grated Parmesan cheese

750ml milk

30g butter

50g dried breadcrumbs pinch paprika

Chilli Con Carne

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

2 large onions, diced

3 cloves minced garlic

2 tbsp chilli powder

2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp ground cumin

1kg pack lean minced beef

400g can chopped tomato

2 cubes beef stock

2 large green peppers, seeded and chopped

800g red kidney beans, drained

Salt and pepper to taste

Sour cream and cheese for garnish

Method

1. Cook macaroni and drain.

2. Preheat the oven to 180c

3. Meanwhile melt 50g butter in a saucepan, over medium heat.

4. Stir in the flour then add milk slowly, stirring constantly – watching out for lumps.

5. When the sauce is thick and smooth, stir in cheeses and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole or baking dish and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.

6. Melt remaining butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni to cover. Sprinkle with the paprika.

7. Bake for 30 minutes and serve while hot

Method

1. Add your oil and fry your onions and garlic in a pan until soft.

2. Add your spices and oregano and cook for a minute.

3. Gradually add the mince until it’s brown.

4. Tip the mixture into a slow cooker followed by the tomatoes, beans and peppers, crumble in the stock cubes and season to taste.

5. Cook on Low for 8-10 hours, then serve with sour cream for garnish. You can serve with a buttered bread roll, tortilla chips or rice.

Lamb and Roots Stew

Ingredients

1 kg stewing lamb, cut into large chunks

4 carrots, washed and cut into smaller pieces

1 swede, peeled and chopped to roughly same size as potatoes

2 onions, halved and thinly sliced

1 tbsp Dark brown sugar

2 Bay leaves

600 ml dark ale

2 Medium potatoes, washed and cut, with skins on, into bitesize pieces

Handful of finely chopped curly parsley

2 tbsp Malt vinegar

1 ½ tsp Ground, black pepper

1 ½ tsp salt

Method

1. Coat the lamb pieces in well-seasoned flour and brown with butter over a medium heat.

2. Remove the lamb and scatter over onions, carrots and swede, followed by the rest of the ingredients along with enough dark ale to just cover the lamb.

3. Put into a casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid and cook in the oven at 180C for roughly 2 hours until the meat is tender.

4. 20 minutes before the end of the 2 hours cooking time, add the potato to the stew and leave the lid off for the remaining cooking time. This will enable the juice to thicken while the potato cooks.

5. Scatter some finely chopped parsley and season to serve.

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

2 tbsp butter

1 chopped onion

1 stalk chopped celery

1 carrot, chopped

2 potatoes, cubed

1 butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cubed

900ml chicken stock

Salt and pepper to taste

Crème fraiche (optional)

Chilli flakes (optional)

Parsley to garnish

Method

1. Over medium heat melt the butter in a large pot, and cook the onion, celery, carrot, potatoes, and squash until lightly browned, this will take roughly 5 minutes.

2. Pour in enough chicken stock to cover vegetables and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

3. Reduce to a low heat, put the lid on and simmer until all vegetables are tender, about 40 minutes.

4. Transfer the soup to a blender, and blend until smooth.

5. Return the mixture to the pot, and mix in any remaining stock to reach desired consistency.

6. Season with salt and pepper and serve the soup in bowls with swirls of crème fraiche, garnish with parsley and a scattering of chilli flakes.

Keeping warm in the Winter

It’s winter time, the roads are icy and the mittens are on, but what can you do to keep warm and stop the cold weather affecting your health?

It’s important to remember that the cold can affect anyone so keep an eye on those more vulnerable and help them stay healthy by following some simple tips.

Make sure you keep your house at an adequate temperature, usually around 21°C but of course you can turn it up if you are still feeling cold. Be sure to keep the heat in overnight as it’s generally the coldest just before dawn so make sure you’ve closed your bedroom window and close the curtains to keep as much heat in as possible.

If you are worried about finances and turning the heating on, make sure you get the right financial support that you’re entitled to, to help pay the energy bills.

It may seem obvious but wrap up! It’s more effective to wear several thin layers than just one thick layer, and don’t forget about thermals, tights, hats, gloves and scarfs.

Clothes made from fabrics like wool or fleecy materials work the best for those chilly nights. Look around the house for that hot water bottle, it’s probably tucked in the cupboard under the sink, wherever it is just fish it out and start using it a lot more, it’s great

alongside a blanket or a duvet. Also, start leaving woolly blankets around the home – in safe positions so no-one trips over of course.

If you have to leave the comfort of your own home, be prepared. Make sure you’re wearing warm footwear and something for your hands, head and face, and if you can, invest in some non-slip soles because you don’t want to try ice skating without the blades, it’s very painful!

A good way to battle the elements outside is to invest in a scarf. By loosely wrapping it around your face and nose you can warm cold air before you’ve even breathed it in, making it less of a shock on the system. You can spend months preparing for the cold but sometimes it just sneaks past all defences, so it’s vital to keep basic cold, flu and sore throat remedies in the house as well as a list of emergency number like electric and gas companies to stay on top of any problems, and stay on top of the weather forecast.

Eat well and enjoy at least one hot meal a day and try to get a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables to ensure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs.

Last but no means least, keep as active as possible; this helps keep warm and also prevents muscle loss, with muscles being important to create body heat!