News Around

Join our network of SEND support in Essex

We are encouraging clubs, groups and organisations to join the Essex Local Offer. This provides information on support for people aged up to 25 with Special Education Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). It includes advice if you’re new to SEND and a range of local groups and activities that offer support. The site currently lists over 350 services, groups and activities which offer different types of support. These include play centres, sport clubs and employment support. Clubs, groups and organisations can offer support in different ways. This might be as full-time provision or during dedicated SEND-inclusive sessions.

Joining the Essex Local Offer is free and there is no limit on the size of club or organisation that can join.

Find out more and request to join the Essex Local Offer via send.essex.gov.uk/contacts/getting-listedwebsite

Have your say on cycling and walking networks

LCWIPs help create coherent cycling and walking networks. They will support us to achieve the vision of a safer, greener, and healthier county.

The consultation explores routes in Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Colchester. It will run for eight weeks until Friday 29th September.

Councillor Lee Scott, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, said:

“One of the aims of our Safer Greener Healthier campaign is to encourage local residents to rethink the way they travel where possible, especially for shorter journeys.

LCWIPs are a significant step towards achieving this. By developing these cycling and walking networks, we can prioritise how to invest in our streets so that they become healthier places, are more accessible and have better air quality. They will also become safer for those who choose to walk or cycle leading to everyone having more travel independence.

“Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Colchester are all experiencing significant growth pressures and therefore prioritising the development of good and safe walking and cycling networks is paramount.” Take part in the consultation and find out more at consultations.essex.gov.uk/ sustainable-travel-planning-team/localcycling-and-walking-infrastructure-planslcw

Consultations for other parts of Essex will follow in the autumn and new year.

Residents are being invited to take part in a survey on walking and cycling networks. It asks residents their views on the development of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs). The routes will guide and inform the future direction of our active travel strategy.

Essex businesses continue to have access to 12 hours of free support

We have renewed our contract with Backing Essex Business for a third year.