Uttlesford
CPRE Essex evidence helps sink plans for big development at Takeley
Friday 16 September 2022
We were delighted to receive the news that an appeal by Weston Homes in relation to a large mixed-use development at Takeley has been dismissed. The proposed development would have involved the construction of 190 dwellings and more than 3,500 square metres of industrial space on 26 hectares of high-quality arable land. The site was […] Read more >
Design in Uttlesford: you can have your say!
Tuesday 9 August 2022
Would you like to help shape new design code for Uttlesford? Uttlesford District Council has been successful in its funding bid to produce a district-wide design code. It will be produced over the next few months and be a planning document used by local people, planning officers and developers in the preparation and assessment of […] Read more >
The big beast that does things very much its own way…
Thursday 28 July 2022
Much though we all love country life, it does have its moments… Normally chilled photographer Gordon Ridgewell reports: “I can’t even sit in the garden tonight, with the big beast making loads of noise and everything covered with dust.” Read more >
Shades of Green
Tuesday 17 May 2022
From Gordon Ridgewell… “A short walk around the village on a lovely spring afternoon took me by the cattle grazing in the water meadows near the River Cam. “It’s just amazing how many shades of green are showing. This gives me more pleasure than jetting off to some Greek island and lying on a scorched beach […] Read more >
Uttlesford council blocks plan for solar farm
Tuesday 19 April 2022
Uttlesford District Council has refused permission for a solar farm that would have crossed into another local authority area. The scheme, proposed by Endurance Energy, would have covered 115 hectares near Bishop’s Stortford in a development called Wickham Hall Solar Farm straddling Uttlesford and East Herts district councils. However, on Wednesday, April 13, Uttlesford District […] Read more >
Gordon gives us a taste of spring from Newport
Monday 11 April 2022
We haven’t been treated to a Gordon Ridgewell picture for a while, so let’s put that little anomaly to rest… He tells us: “I went to Newport church yesterday to photograph a Role of Honour they had found and Imperial War Museums Memorials asked if I could get a picture. “After leaving the church I […] Read more >
Concerns over wildlife impact, road safety and nearby power lines sink plans for solar farm
Thursday 10 February 2022
So they can be stopped… Plans for a solar farm to be built between Manuden and Berden, on the Essex-Hertfordshire border, have been blocked by Uttlesford District Council. Low Carbon Solar Park 6 had applied to both East Herts and Uttlesford district councils for permission to develop its Pelham Spring solar park but failed to […] Read more >
Plough Sunday is alive and well in Thaxted!
Wednesday 19 January 2022
Always first to the draw, we gave you plenty of advance notice of Thaxted’s Plough Sunday service… and what an event it was, as our star man Gordon Ridgewell demonstrates with these photographs. He tells us the story: “It wasn’t the Red Arrows attracting the crowds at Thaxted on Sunday but a Tractor Drive-By. “Some […] Read more >
A time to remember…
Wednesday 10 November 2021
With Remembrance Day tomorrow (Thursday, November 11), here are two highly appropriate images from photographer Gordon Ridgewell. “These community poppies at Littlebury in 2018 made an impressive display,” said Gordon. The other picture comes from the Essex-Cambridgeshire border. “I recently visited Hadstock church for IWM Memorials. I have been contributing to the site for a […] Read more >
‘Eco’ development convinces council… but not village residents
Thursday 4 November 2021
Angry villagers have said they will “never accept” what is being described as an eco-housing estate despite its approval by the local authority. Uttlesford District Council has backed the 89-unit development in Newport by Trivselhus UK; the properties will apparently have electric charging points and triple-glazing… hence the ‘eco’ tag. Some councillors criticised the request […] Read more >