Uttlesford
Colourful memories from the summer to give us all some cheer amid the gloom
Thursday 10 December 2020
Gloomy, isn’t it! Grey seems to be the order of the day in so many ways. For some that is doubtless not an issue, but others will cherish just a memory of warmer, more colourful days. So here’s a picture from the redoubtable Gordon Ridgewell, who took this shot of two small tortoiseshells back in […] Read more >
Uttlesford council is keen to involve the community in its Local Plan… so let’s take the opportunity
Thursday 10 December 2020
The Uttlesford Local Plan will (theoretically, at least) guide the development of the district over the next 15 years and residents are asked to take part in its formation. The first of nine themes or ‘mini-consultations’ was held last month (November), starting what the district council describes as “the start of a six-month conversation about […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: rural life in sepia
Friday 12 June 2020
Wonderful! This enchanting picture of a bygone rural Essex comes from Gordon Ridgewell, although he didn’t take it himself. It was taken at New House Farm, Ashdon, near Saffron Walden, in 1924. “I have got inspired to update my life history and found this shot of my grandfather,” says Gordon. “He worked on the same […] Read more >
The Restoration of Easton Park
Tuesday 9 June 2020
The withdrawal of Uttlesford District Council’s draft Local Plan earlier this year hopefully means its proposal for a 10,000-home new town on Easton Park has died with it. Here, Vincent Thompson, of the campaign group Stop Easton Park, unveils the fascinating, and colourful, history of this beautiful place. The Restoration of Easton Park Introduction On […] Read more >
Uttlesford Local Plan is withdrawn from examination
Wednesday 6 May 2020
Uttlesford District Council has voted to withdraw its draft Local Plan from examination. A three-hour extraordinary general meeting on Thursday, April 30, concluded with a 31-7 vote to withdraw the Plan that had been submitted by the council’s previous Conservative administration in October 2018. Planning inspectors had reported in January that they could not find […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: you can’t keep Stansted Mountfitchet out of the picture
Tuesday 5 May 2020
They just keep on coming! Our Lovely Essex today showcases three pictures from Ken McDonald taken during walks near his home in Stansted Mountfitchet during the lockdown. Thanks, Ken! Read more >
Stansted expansion plans not to be treated as NSIP, rules High Court
Monday 17 February 2020
The High Court has decided that a planning application to increase passenger numbers at Stansted Airport does not need to be treated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). The announcement, made on Friday, February 7, that the Secretary of State for Transport does not have a statutory duty to treat the application as an […] Read more >
Stansted expansion plans blocked by district council
Wednesday 29 January 2020
Plans to increase the number of passengers travelling through Stansted Airport have been refused by Uttlesford District Council. Airport operator Manchester Airports Group had wanted to hike passenger numbers from 35 million to 43 million a year, but the local authority’s planning committee went against the advice of their officers and rejected the proposal, which […] Read more >
Decision due on Stansted expansion this week: ‘The world has moved on’
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Are we nearing a final decision on Stansted Airport’s bid to increase passenger numbers from 35 million to 43 million a year? The plans were backed by Uttlesford District Council’s planning committee in November last year, but the full council chose to re-examine the proposals in light of UK Carbon Net Zero 2050 legislation. The […] Read more >
Uttlesford council recommended to pull its Local Plan, so what now for Essex garden communities?
Wednesday 15 January 2020
In a huge blow to plans for so-called garden communities in north-west Essex, planning inspectors have recommended that Uttlesford District Council withdraw its Local Plan from examination. The inspectors said they could not find the document sound because of its insufficient evidence to justify the garden-communities proposals, noting that the draft Plan had not provided […] Read more >