Poem

Wow! We are in May already and after wishing for all restrictions to move along, Suddenly reality hits and I discover that so much of the year has already gone. We are now on the cusp of summer, a one for which we are in a much better shape, With life’s restraints lifting, allowing us much more freedom with all the decisions we can make. Staycations proving popular, as to go abroad comes with many headaches as to where you can go, While our beloved country still offers beauty, though gorgeous weather can be amiss, a fact we all know. With shops opening up causing so many to champ at the bit, as if it were a race waiting to start, With so many that I know all eager to head straight off ,to the wonderous place called Primark. Booking slots again for an outside table at a pub, Longing to meet up again with your friends, chatting once more over some drinks and grub. It’s not all normal or as things once used to be, but it’s a big step in the right direction to our new normality. Sadly soon we’ll probably take everything for granted and try and forget what was a ‘hiccup’ to our plans, From having to work from home, and from each other to the complete muddle that took place over our children’s school exams. Yes I guess I am so glad we are where we are. as given time everything mends, Though that will never bring back lost family members, loved ones or friends. For that reason I hope everyone will keep a part of this pandemic in their minds, As we look forward once again united ,with a new welcomed thirst for happier times.

Source: Andy resident poet. Summarising the world as it is today.

How did you entertain yourself during lockdown? Did you make enough banana bread to build a fort? Knit matching outfits for all the family including the pets? Discover bits of your neighbourhood that noone except you knows about? If so, Essex libraries need you! We’d like to invite you to contribute your personal examples of life in lockdown to a new exhibition. Many libraries are hosting a Life in Lockdown exhibition, including North Weald, which aims to make a one-of-a-kind collage from the examples you lend us, each one unique to the community served by that library. You can contribute anything that someone has spent time making, learning, or experiencing during lockdown. It’s a celebration of creativity and ingenuity – all levels of expertise are accepted! Some examples are • Knitted or crocheted objects • Drawings or paintings • Poems or songs • Recipes • Photos of created items, painted stones; or photos of new walks • Photos of homework, gardening or decorating

To contribute, simply take your item, or an image of your chosen piece to your nearest participating library by 10th May, and place it in the box near the front door. The item needs to be something that can be pinned or stapled to a display board; it should be no larger than A3 and should not depict people, or anything that enables someone to recognise your address. Your contact details should also be on the back of each item or attached via a label that can be hidden when the item is on display.

Town council opposes Station Road flats

Plans to add a third storey to a building in Station Road, Epping, to enable a development of six one-bedroom flats are being opposed by the town council. Councillors have objected saying the proposed development at Purlieu House at 11 Station Road is "overbearing" and "overdominant". A planning application submitted to Epping Forest District Council is seeking consent to add a third floor and turn existing office space on the ground floor to retail use. Existing parking for six vehicles would be retained with office space on the first floor and the flats on the second and newly-created third floor. Councillor Barbara Scruton told Tuesday's planning and general purposes committee: "It's the first building you see when you walk up Station Road. Another storey will be so dominant." She added: "It's in the conservation area and I just think it will have such a negative impact on the street scene and will have a loss of amenity to the properties around it." Councillor Mari-Louise Whitbread said: "It's very attractive but very over-bearing, over tall, and although it would be handy for people to stay (living) local, it's overdevelopment."

Town Mayor Grahame Scruton expressed concern over the increase in a "tunnelling effect" the additional storey would have along Station Road, and the impact the higher building would have on Honeysuckle Mews, on the opposite corner of Hemnall Street and Station Road. Councillor Christine Burgess said: "When these buildings are put up, surely the underpinning and things like that are put in place to support the building that's going up at the time. "If you plonk another storey on top, they are going to have to do something about that." Councillor Cherry McCredie asked: "Is this actually needed? Is it just over-development and we can live without it?"