Notice of Election for the wards of:- Great Notley & Braintree West; Braintree South and Braintree East

Elections are to be held for District Councillors to represent the Great Notley and Braintree West; Braintree South and Braintree East Wards. This follows the resignation of Cllrs Claire Sandbrook; Stephen Sandbrook and David Messer respectively. Nomination papers are available on the Council’s website at: http://www.braintree.gov.uk/Braintree/councildemocracy/elections/elect_notice or can be collected in person at Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree CM7 9HB. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at Causeway House, Braintree no later than noon on Friday 17th February 2012. If the election is contested, the poll will take place on Thursday 15th March 2012. Poll cards will be sent to 15,900 registered electors within the three wards on the 15th February 2012. Any elector living in these wards who has not received their poll card by 21st February 2012 should contact the Council on 552525. Any eligible residents within these wards wishing to register to vote, apply for a postal vote or amend or cancel an existing postal or proxy voting instruction should take note that the appropriate completed application forms must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer at Causeway House, Braintree CM7 9HB no later than 5pm Wednesday 29th February 2012 if they are to be effective for this election. New applications to vote by proxy for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Causeway House, Braintree CM7 9HB by 5pm on Wednesday 7th March 2012 if they are to be effective for this election.

EX AGONY AUNT LEADS WRITERS GROUP

The Hedingham Writers Group has been renamed from The Siblings Writers Group, founded in March 2010, and is now lead by Wanda Sellar, who once worked for the Daily Mirror assisting Marjorie Proops and Miriam Stoppard. The writers group covers all kinds of writing from fiction to non-fiction articles, plays, poetry, comic sketches. Some of us have had work published - books and articles - but we eagerly welcome beginners too. We have informal discussions about authors, sometimes literature in general, and the writers craft, and even the arts generally. Each meeting is led by a different member of the group. Sometimes a few members get together and enjoy a play and film. We meet at the Wheatsheaf in Castle Hedingham at 5pm, usually the third Thursday of each month. Some future dates and topics are as follows: 16 February Reading own work; 15 March Writing articles for magazines; 19 April The novels of Virginia Woolf; 17 May Reading own work; 21 June 15 minute writing exercise to a given theme. If you would like to join us, please contact: Wanda Sellar on 01787 463459 or email: wanda.sellar@virgin.net

Extra funding could bring the WOW factor to summer fetes and festivals

Braintree District Council is urging parishes, town councils and voluntary organisations in the district to make the most of new funding being offered by Essex County Council to help

communities celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Essex County Council is offering grants of up to £400 via its ‘Celebrate Your Fete’ initiative to help local communities stage celebration events across Essex (see application deadlines below). Councillor Stephen Castle, Cabinet Member for Education and the 2012 Games, Essex County Council commented: “It’s only 6 months to go before the opening Ceremony and here in Essex we are preparing ourselves for the excitement and the celebrations that will come with it. ‘Celebrate Your Fete’ is a fantastic way of boosting an existing fete or event which, with the addition of a little funding, could offer additional 2012 Games related activities for the community to take part in. Alternatively, the money could be used to help create a brand new event; bringing the community together through the 2012 Games. 2012 will be a year of celebration and I am delighted that we can offer the people of Essex the opportunity to be a part of it. There is still a chance to access this funding and I urge the communities in the Braintree District to apply and start preparing for the greatest show on earth’. Cllr Joanne Beavis, Cabinet Member for Communities said: “After the exciting news that the Torch Relay will be passing through Hatfield Peverel in the Braintree district, we want to keep up the momentum and help communities across the district celebrate and enjoy this momentous year. We’d encourage residents to apply as this extra funding could help bring that extra wow factor to your event.” Applications are invited from bodies which are properly constituted, Essex-based and community focused. This may include: Town and parish councils, Village Hall committees, Neighbourhood committees, Residents’ Associations, Community Groups and Voluntary Organisations, Universities, colleges, schools or PTAs. The deadlines for applications are: 13th February 2012 and 12th March 2012 For more information and to apply go online to: http://www.essexlegacy.org/celebrations/celebrate-your-fete-in-2012

Essex Bat Group Member Appeal

Are you interested in bats? Do you enjoy seeing them flying around your garden at nights? Do you want to get involved with learning more about them and protecting them? Get involved in bat walks, surveys, help care for injured bats - there are many ways you can help or get involved. Why not become a member of the Group and get involved - bat walks, bat detector courses - there are so many ways that people can help bats Sue Burton, EBG Committee member said; "Bats get a very bad press but they are superb little creatures who are really struggling in Essex as their habitats get destroyed . At Essex Bat Group we are keen to get more people involved in helping these creatures" - Bats are the only mammals that fly - British bats eat only insects - They find their prey using echo-location - There are 18 species of bat in the UK, - Bats are long lived, intelligent, highly social and more agile in flight than most birds - Bats DO NOT build nests, chew wood or plastic, get caught in your hair, or bring food into the roost. For more information contact Sue on 01277 356191

Essex Air Ambulance is delighted to announce Volvo Cars Bishop’s Stortford as main sponsors of Strictly Air Ambulance

This popular event starring James and Ola Jordan, celebrity professional dancers from Strictly Come Dancing is returning to the Brentwood Centre on Friday 2nd March for a breathtaking show. Alasdair Jakes of Volvo Cars Bishop’s Stortford, said: “Volvo Cars Bishop’s Stortford are delighted to be putting their best foot forward and working with the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust for Strictly Air Ambulance!” Wendy Marcon, Events Manager of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust, adds: “We are extremely grateful to Volvo Cars for their support and for working in partnership with us on this event as without local businesses coming on board as a sponsor, the Strictly Air Ambulance event cannot go ahead. It is increasingly tough in these challenging times to secure corporate sponsorship for our events, but we hope Volvo’s involvement will spur on other companies to do the same.” Hosted by Alex and Martin from Heart Breakfast, this fun filled evening will see six couples battle it out on the dance floor; performing two dances each to try and impress the judges. Working in partnership with Essex Air Ambulance, Chelmsford Dance Centre has been training the contestants in preparation for the event. Special guests James and Ola Jordan will give a show-stopping performance on the night and will be judging the dance competition alongside Head Judge Phil Meacham of Chelmsford Dance Centre, Su Harrison from Heart Breakfast and Jane Gurney, CEO of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust. Singing sensation Josh Dubovie will be providing the musical entertainment as well as taking part as one of the contestants. Plus, there will be a charity auction on the night with fantastic items up for grabs including a Volvo Car for the weekend courtesy of main sponsors Volvo Cars Bishop’s Stortford. Tickets are £12 (concessions £10) each. For more information and to book visit EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com. Alternatively, call Wendy Marcon on 0845 2417 690.

Pounds for Ponies Appeal

Calling All Local Businesses Trek Italy and Save £500!

Was your New resolution to lose a few pounds? If so the Remus Hose Sanctuary at Buttsbury would love to hear from you. The Sanctuary have just launched their Pounds for Ponies Campaign. Lose weight and raise funds for the Sanctuary's winter feed appeal. All you have to do is decide on the amount you want to lose. Call or email for your sponsor form and raise money for every pound you lose. All money raised will go directly into feeding the animals at the Sanctuary over the winter months. Sue Burton, Sanctuary Founder said " This is agreat way for people who want to lose weight to do so but to also help the animals at the same time. This year particularly funds are hard due to the recession digging deeper and costs spiralling so its a great way for people to help out and help the horses and their own health" For more information contact the Sanctuary on 01277 356191 or remusoffice@aol.com

Get fit in 2012 and raise vital funds for Essex Air Ambulance by taking part in their latest challenge, trekking 3 volcanoes in Italy. As an incentive, the Charity is offering a special Corporate Package to all organisations that sign up two or more employees on the trek. The Charity is looking for supporters to join them from 14th to 19th June on a 6 day trek in Italy, scaling the legendary Vesuvius, Stromboli and Mount Etna whilst taking in stunning views of some of Italy’s most spectacular scenery. If you fancy a challenge, but would prefer to take part with a partner or with a group, why not ask your work colleagues? Essex Air Ambulance is offering a Corporate Package Deal where if two or more people from the same company or organisation sign up for the Trek, the Charity will reduce their minimum sponsorship target by 25% from £2,000 to £1,500 each. Nina Benscher, Essex Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, said: “We understand that it can be hard to fundraise when among the same people. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to take part in this amazing trek and raise vital funds.” The 6 day trek starts with Vesuvius, best known for the explosion that buried nearby Pompeii followed by a day climbing Stromboli with an optional trip to see the explosions in the night sky. The challenge culminates on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. If you would like to take part in Challenge Italy and help support the Essex Air Ambulance contact Nina Benscher on 0845 2417 690, email or visit EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com for more details. Nina@EHAAT.uk.com

Remus staff with Ruby pony are James McGovern Yard Manager and Holly Gannon Yard Supervisor

Local groups receive £50,000 from annual Community Fund

During 2011, Greenfields funded 13 local projects and organisations from its annual £50,000 Community Fund. These included: • Halstead Boxing Club - £4,450 to buy a competitive boxing ring • Red Balloon Learning Centre, Braintree - £5,000 to provide a mentoring service to children experiencing severe bullying issues in the Braintree district • Witham Running Club - £5,000 towards the cost of staging the 2011 Witham Boxing Day five-mile race • 1st Great Notley Scout Group - £4,000 for an additional tent and marquee extensions Amelia Wright, who volunteers for the Great Notley Scouts Group, said: “As our group has grown so substantially over the past few years, we will greatly benefit from increasing our marquee space, so that we can accommodate everyone at meal times, and offer social space and practical, dry storage while we are on our camps and activity weekends. We had literally outgrown our kit, so finding funding to meet our requirements was critical to us.”

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