The pretty town 90 minutes from London that's one of the best places in Britain to live if you want to live to be really old
The picturesque village has a very high life expectancy When people move from one area to another there are a few things they consider. How nice the surroundings are, how pricey it is, and the quality of nearby schools - if they’ve got children that is.
Dog-fighting raid by RSPCA and police in Bamber's Green uncovers cannabis farm of around 200 plants
A cannabis farm was uncovered in a raid on a house in Bamber's Green as part of a national RSPCA-led investigation into illegal dog fighting. A man has been arrested on suspicion of drugs, weapon and animal cruelty offences. Sixteen dogs were removed from the £1.3m six-bedroom house in Cobbs Lane when officers from the RSPCA’s special operations unit carried out a warrant early on Wednesday morning (May 18).
Date set for delayed 350 home Uttlesford development decision
Uttlesford District Council previously feared the facilities may never be used A housing development in an Essex village could now include a full sized adult football pitch for a local club, documents say. Proposals for the scheme in Elsenham were delayed by Uttlesford District Council last month over fears facilities planned for Elsenham Youth Football Club may never be used.
History is alive and kicking in Uttlesford thanks to recorders
Landscape archaeologist Simon Coxall was guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Recorders of Uttlesford History (RUH). He said that the organisation was unique in Essex as a network of historians and history societies, and described Uttlesford as "a little shire all of your own".
Small businesses in Colchester to be offered help on battling climate change
Colchester businesses to be helped tackle climate crisis FREE training courses are to be offered to business in Colchester and north Essex on how to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Colbea, a business support and enterprise agency, is offering what is known as low carbon sustainability training to firms which employ less than 250 people in the hope the businesses will hit net-zero targets.
Paper Grenades: Uttlesford girl band to play main stage at Strawberry Fair after winning Audience Choice Award in Cambridge band competition
A teenage girl band from Uttlesford walked away from the Cambridge Band Competition with an award and a prime slot at June's Strawberry Fair festival in the city. Indie five-piece Paper Grenades, who met aged just seven while at Saffron Walden's Dame Bradbury School and are now only 13 and 14, will perform in front of a 30,000-plus crowd on Midsummer Common on Saturday June 11.
R4U calls for urgent action to tackle mental health crisis among young people
Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) has won support for tackling the mental health crisis among young people in Essex. Its two members who represent Thaxted and Saffron Walden on Essex County Council (ECC), have successfully pushed through a motion calling on the authority to make the issue a top priority after figures revealed that over 22,000 children and young people in Essex were dealing with mental health problems.
A giant snail, sporting success and other school news
What's been happening in Uttlesford schools, in pictures. Katherine Semar Schools Katherine Semar Year 4 children had three days of activities during a residential trip to Kingswood Activity Centre in West Runton, Norfolk. The fun included archery, rock climbing, zip wires and high rope activities.
Mental health crisis: School children attempting ‘real serious harm’
SCHOOL children are attempting “real serious harm” , councillors have claimed in sobering accounts of a mental health crisis in Essex. Calls were also shot down in an Essex County Council meeting yesterday for more money to improve mental health services. It comes after the Full Council heard on Tuesday (May 10) evidence detailing one school in Uttlesford that had seen two students in just the last two weeks attempting serious harm.
The area of Essex which has been most generous in offering their homes to Ukrainian refugees
New data has shown where people in Essex are most willing to take in refugees Households in Uttlesford have been the most generous in Essex to open up their homes to Ukrainian refugees via the Government's sponsorship route, data from the Reach data unit has found. The latest Home Office figures show that as of May 3, 143 visas had been issued to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion who had sponsors in the area via the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
20,000 ballot box results highlight youth concerns
Uttlesford youngsters care most about the environment, ballot box results have revealed. Young people aged 11 to 18 were asked to vote on what was the most important to them, through the UK Youth Parliament's Make Your Mark ballot. Participation in Essex was the highest in the East of England, with 20,000 getting involved.
Paul Davies: Conservative ex-Uttlesford district councillor for Dunmow and parish councillor for Stansted charged over child sex abuse videos and extreme porn video involving dog
A Conservative former member of Uttlesford District Council and Stansted Parish Council has appeared in court on five charges related to hundreds of videos of child sex abuse and bestiality. Paul Davies, 47, of Oxlip Road, Stansted, appeared before magistrates in Chelmsford on Monday last week (April 25).
110 homes near Stansted Airport: design and details approved
More than 100 homes will be built in a protected area of the countryside in Essex by Stansted Airport. Outline permission for the plans for 110 homes in Takeley by Stonebond Ltd was gained on appeal in January 2021. Uttlesford District Council has now approved the final details at a planning committee meeting (April 27).
Wickham Hall solar farm: Developer ponders appeal after Uttlesford District Council refuses planning permission
The company behind plans for a solar farm on the outskirts of Bishop’s Stortford is considering an appeal after Uttlesford District Council rejected its application. Endurance Energy’s 40-year project at Wickham Hall would deliver 36,000 photovoltaic panels across 114 hectares (282 acres), primarily in the Albury parish of East Herts.
Rivers polluted 'beyond legal levels'
Charlie Ridler, local democracy reporter Uttlesford councillors are calling on the Government to make more river inspections after taking it upon themselves to test pollution levels, finding them to be "beyond legal limits". Councillors Richard Pavitt and Judy Emmanuel said pollution in the River Cam and River Chelmer was likely to be from raw or partially treated sewage.
Search launched for missing 14-year-old girl in Essex
POLICE are searching for a 14-year-old girl who has been missing since yesterday morning. Elly-May Harvey, who is missing from Uttlesford, was last seen in the Takeley area at 11.30am on Wednesday, April 20. She has not been in touch with anyone since. The 14-year-old is described as white, 5ft 2ins tall, slim build and with shoulder length red-brown hair.
River Cam and River Chelmer so polluted they're beyond legal limits, Uttlesford councillors say
Two councillors took it upon themselves to test contamination levels in the rivers An Essex council will ask the Government for more river inspections after councillors took it upon themselves to test pollution levels - finding them to be “beyond legal limits”. Uttlesford District councillors Richard Pavitt and Judy Emmanuel said pollution in the River Cam and River Chelmer was likely to be from raw or partially treated sewage.
Essex Police 'still engaged' with CPS over Uttlesford District Council investigation
Essex Police says its investigation into allegations of wrongdoing at Uttlesford District Council (UDC) has not concluded. The force began its probe in 2020 after it was made aware of an internal investigation at the authority, which governs north-west Essex, including Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow and Stansted.
Wickham Hall solar farm: Uttlesford district councillors show red card to green energy plan for Bishop's Stortford
A plea from Bishop's Stortford Climate Group to support a solar farm for the town has been rejected by Uttlesford District Council. Spokesman Andrew Urquhart urged the north-west Essex authority's planning committee to approve its portion of the Wickham Hall scheme which straddles the border with East Herts, but to no avail.
Easter events in Saffron Walden, Dunmow, High Easter, Thaxted
There have been a number of events and activities across Uttlesford for Easter, ranging from egg hunts to lunches to a Prayer Walk. Easter craft workshop Over 100 children got involved in an Easter crafts workshop, organised by Saffron Walden Town Council. They decorated Easter baskets and cards in the Garden Room of Jubilee Gardens.