Mar 10 - Everything Epping Forest

Everything Epping ForestPage 5 of 22for including a war memorial in the design.NHS West Essex director of corporate services Leigh Fleming said the PCT fullyunderstood the concerns raised but stressed that parking spaces to be made available onthe leisure centre site on the other side of Fyfield Road would be for staff, freeing up thespaces behind the medical centre for use by patients and visitors.Commenting on the land adjoining the site, she said the sale price would be too high forthe PCT to afford. The advantage with the hospital site was that it was already under PCTownership.She added it was a much needed development with current GP premises too small toaccommodate the necessary facilities. She said the consultation showed local people were"behind us 100 per cent".Councillor Derek Jacobs said he was in "two minds" about the design which had beendescribed as creating a striking landmark for the town.He said: "I think these facilities are desperately needed in Ongar. The GPs and othershave said the current facilities are not fit for purpose and it makes sense to combine all thefacilities in Ongar under one roof if possible."Councillor Richard Morgan said it would be a landmark and much needed building whilecouncil leader Di Collins said: "This (health facilities in Ongar) has been an ongoingproblem for some time. GP premises there really are back in the 20th century. We do needsomething that is fit for purpose in Ongar."Any delay on this will incur more cost.. Ongar members should be very grateful to thePCT for forcing this onwards and upwards. Any delay not getting on with this now will bevery short-sighted."It's a very, very good facility. This is taxpayers money, its the health service's money andthere just isn't a big pot any more."Permission was granted by 14 votes to nil, with one councillor - Shelley councillor PeterGode - abstaining.Sign up for Easter egg hunt24th March 2010MEMBERS of 1st Theydon Garnon Scout Group are holding an Easter Egg Hunt in EppingHigh Street on Saturday.To join in the hunt, between 10am and 3pm, children will need to buy a form (£1) from thestand outside Greggs Bakery.They can then hunt up and down the High Street trying to spot the Easter Eggs hidden inshop windows.When they return their completed forms to the stall they will receive a small prize and beable to enter the raffle.All proceeds will go towards the fundraising efforts for the new scout building.Bungee plunge for charity24th March 2010DAREDEVIL fundraiser Gemma Martin will be raising money for St Clare Hospice whenshe plunges 170ft to the ground on North Weald airfield.Gemma, who is a governance assistant (provider services) with West Essex CommunityHealth Services, is appealing for sponsors before she takes part in the charity bungeejump on Saturday 3 April.Gemma said: "I'm rather scared at the thought but doing a bungee jump is one of thethings on my 'wish list' to do before I die. I want to go to New Zealand and bungee jumpthere so this will be good practice!"She said: "It's something I think will be worth doing, and being able to support a charity atthe same time will make it all the more worthwhile."Gemma, who lives in Harlow and works at St Margaret's Hospital, Epping, needs to raise aminimum of £100 but hopes pledges from family, friends and work colleagues will generatemuch more for the Hastingwood-based charity.If you want to sponsor Gemma, visit her Justgiving pagewww.justgiving.com/gemmamartin85Anyone wanting to take part in the bungee jump can register by ringing St Clare Hospice'sfundraising team on 01279 773750 or email fund@stclarehospice.org.ukPlanners back church proposals24th March 2010PLANS for an extension to All Saints Church, Epping Upland, to accommodate meetingrooms and toilets are being recommended for approval.District council planning officers are supporting the proposals, despite objections from theparish council.The single-storey addition would be on the northern side of the Grade II listed church withan extension to the existing porch.However the parish council is concerned about the scale of the proposed work on thehistoric building.Councillors add that the extension will be visible from the road, with the extensionappearing to be "not entirely in keeping with the current external finishes". Gravestonesare to be re-set in the disused burial ground to accommodate the extension.A planning officer's report to the district council's area plans committee states that whilethe church is in the green belt the extension would be "reasonable" and would not undulyimpact on the openness or appearance of the green belt.English Heritage says the scheme "seems a sympathetic response to both the buildingand the brief" while Essex County Council and the historic buildings advisor has voiced noobjection saying "the conservation issues have been well addressed".Masked raiders target pub23rd March 2010THREE members of staff at a Chigwell pub have been threatened by masked raidersarmed with a crowbar.Two men forced their way in through a back door at the King William IV pub, High Road, atabout 9.30am on Monday, March 15.They confronted a 48-year-old cleaner who was working downstairs then dragged twoother members of staff, aged 32 and 33, from their beds in a first-floor flat.The burglars then threatened all three men with a crowbar and ordered them to open asafe.They escaped with a four-figure sum of cash.Investigating officer Sergeant Tina Hart said: "This was a frightening attack and all threemembers of staff were badly shaken by their ordeal. The man who was cleaningdownstairs was grabbed from behind and the other two men had both been asleepupstairs and were dragged from their beds and forced down the stairs."We want to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time or from anyone who hasinformation about who was responsible."The pub is near two busy junctions and there might have been queues of traffic outsidethe pub. We want to hear from anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious."03/05/2010