Nov 11 - Everything Epping Forest

Everything Epping ForestPage 2 of 33raised just over £1,000.Half the money will go to the church and the other half split between two local charities.The event was a great success and once again showed the overwhelming generosity ofthe people of Ongar despite the current difficult economic times.Gill Richardson, the church's Fund-raising Co-ordinator, said: "I would like to extend a bigthank you to the fund-raising team, the shops and businesses who displayed postersadvertising the event, all the stallholders but especially everyone who came andsupported the event."The money raised will be shared between West Essex Mind and Ongar & DistrictBereavement Service.Gill added: "The warmth in the Budworth Hall could be felt when entering - the true spiritof Christmas really seemed to surround us and it was lovely to see so many happysmiling faces."Ongar & District Bereavement Support Service is a small group of trained volunteersworking in Ongar and the surrounding area who help bereaved people deal with theirloss.The charity does not charge for its services so rely on donations.For more information visit http://www.odbss.co.uk/West Essex Mind is affiliated to National Mind and works to support people affected bymental health, and the people around them, on the journey towards recovery.Believing that with the appropriate support everyone has the potential to take steps thatwill improve their quality of life, the charity aims to achieve this by providing a range ofdifferent activities and opportunities.For more information visit http://www.westessexmind.org.uk/MP's fuel tax campaign victory2.13pm - 29th November 2011HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has spoken of his delight that Chancellor George Osbornehas scrapped the Government's planned 3p fuel tax increased scheduled for January.Mr Halfon said: "I welcome the fact that this Government has listened, and scrapped the4p fuel duty bombshell that had been planned for January 2012."High petrol prices are literally adding to our dole queues, and causing a poverty trap, asHarlow people cannot afford to drive to work."According to figures from the RAC, scrapping the 4p fuel duty rise will save every Harlowmotorist £30 next year. And it will save the 37,000 motorists in Harlow a total of £1mpounds. That is £1m more being spent in Harlow shops and bills: £1 m more in thepockets of Harlow residents."More than 100 MPs supported Mr Halfon's campaign which saw an e-petition attract morethan 106,000 names - triggering a parliamentary debate on the issue earlier this month.Mr Halfon, with the FairFuelUK campaign, fought a long campaign over the fuel tax issueasking questions in Parliament, speaking at Prime Minister's Question Time and takingpart in a protest to Whitehall which ended with a letter being delivered to 10 DowningStreet.Mr Osborne, who made the announcement in his Autumn Statement to the House today(Tuesday), added that a fuel tax increased planned for next August will be limited to 3p.He told the House: "Millions (of people) use their cars to go to work, and pick up thechildren from school. It is not a luxury for most people - it is a necessity."In the Budget I cut fuel duty by one penny. The plan was for fuel duty to be 3p higher inJanuary and 5p higher by August next year. That would be tough for working families at atime like this."So despite all the constraints that are upon us, we are able to cancel the duty increaseplanned for January and for fuel duty from August to be only 3p higher than it is now."Taxes on petrol will be a full 10p lower than it would have been without our action in theBudget and this autumn."Families will save £144 on filling up the average family car by the end of next year. Inthese tough times, we are helping where we can."Quentin Willson, spokesman for FairFuelUK, said: "'This is a victory for FairFuelUK butonly a stay of execution."We've saved the UK 9p since March in proposed fuel duty rises and we are now thegatekeepers of fuel sanity for this country."We're going to carry on pressurising this government to keep duty down and reduce itsignificantly. If we don't they'll hike it up again the first chance they get."Peter Carroll, who runs FairFuelUK, said: "Adding another 3p a litre at this critical time forthe economy would have been economic madness."Petrol and diesel remain far too expensive."We will be fighting on to try and make the Government understand that the economyneeds an actual cut in fuel duty - a cut would create jobs, give people a little moredisposable income and stimulate the economy."This will mean that the Government and the Chancellor will gain, not lose, by cuttingduty."Vandals push over garden walls1.53pm - 29th November 2011POLICE are appealing for witnesses after damage was caused to garden walls in theLoughton area.Overnight last night five walls in the Chester Road, Willingale Road and Jessel Drive areawere forced over.Sgt Simon Dear said: "Intelligence reports received so far are telling us this damage mayhave been committed by local youths."If anyone has any information as to who carried out this damage, please contact us."Anyone with any information should contact officers at Loughton Police Station on 0300333 4444 extension 313333 between noon and 6pm or Crimestoppers anonymously on0800 555 111.District prepares for strikes11.46am - 29th November 2011BOTH Roding Valley High School and West Hatch High School will be closed to all pupilstomorrow as various public service unions take strike action.St John's School in Epping will be open to Year 11 students only.Debden Park High School in Loughton will be closed to Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 pupils.Students in Year 10 and Year 11 must attend as normal.In a letter to parents, Denice Halpin, head teacher of King Harold Business andEnterprise Academy in Waltham Abbey, said there would be "full provision for some Year11 students" on Wednesday with the school closed to all other students.Normal school resumes at all schools on Thursday (December 1).Epping Forest District Council is warning there is the possibility that some services maybe affected for industrial action.A spokesman said: "As far as the council is aware at the moment major frontline servicessuch as waste and recycling collections are largely unaffected."The situation will be monitored very closely throughout the day and updates will beprovided on our website should anything change."Sports and leisure centres should all be operating as normal.01/01/2012