London Marathon 2012

Well it’s two weeks to the day and I’m pretty fully recovered except for some of my toes. After around 9 to 10 months of training I thought I could get a quicker time than the 4:40 that I ended up with. A minor heart condition meant that although my muscles were ready, my heart wasn’t. I thought I should give it one more try after my only other outing at a marathon in 2009, where i posted a time of 5:20. However raising money for Farleigh Hospice gave me the motivating to put all that training in and I do feel better for it, in fact my recovery was almost instant and I managed to go to work without too many aches and pains.

Never again though, it really was a step too far, probably 1000 steps too far, still, doing the London Marathon in the Olympic year is one of those things to tell the grandchildren, of which I will have one in September.

Chelmsford Weekly News Report

Chelmsford Weekly News reports on residents disgust

Weekly News Web Site for full story

After many years campaigning for a crossing on Linnet Drive & Plane Tree Close, we thought that Essex County Council were finally going to install one, the money was allocated and the road was marked out. However, some residents didn’t want a crossing either at all or in that location. So they wrote to ECC and sent in a small petition and it got canned! No doubt with a little influence from our MP Simon Burns? who incidentally managed to lose over 30 letters of support, BEFORE the deadline for consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Highways, Tracey Chapman couldn’t make a decision and deferred it to a new Highways Panel, which hasn’t even been set up yet. That’s a real cop out from someone in a senior cabinet role.

However, this has spurred on a group of residents to gather public support in favour of a crossing by creating both a paper and on-line petition. As of Friday there were about 500 names on the petition with momentum gathering pace every day. With local schools and community groups supporting the initiative, it will be hard for the new Highways Panel not to do something.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE

After a long time lobbying for a Bus Stop by my predecessor Cllr Philip Firth we have finally secured the installation of a nice wooden style bus stop. Thank you ECC for doing it before the new financial year.

Bus Stop installed by The Queen B pub

The bus stop here is a bit in the open with nowhere to shelter, which is why we had been campaigning to get one installed.

Bus Stop - Waterson Vale

In 2 days this important campaign to make sure Essex County Council will install a pedestrian crossing on Linnet Drive has attracted 117 members on it’s Facebook page PLEASE ADD YOUR SUPPORT by going to the Facebook Page and adding a comment.

Jude Deakin the County Councillor said “I’d like to thank all of you for showing your support to this Pedestrian Crossing. As the County Councillor for the area I will be writing to all of the people who signed the ‘Petition against proposed pedestrian crossing at Linnet Drive’ stating that our childrens safer journey to school is my priority and many residents are fully supporting this proposal.”

I am supporting residents that have had to put up with traffic illegally using a bus only lane for the last 5 or so years.

Conservative run Essex County Council have incompetently managed both the camera and the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)

The previous TRO excluded motorcycles but the new proposed TRO has included them. The link is a single lane, very narrow and extremely close to some houses. In fact for one house from their front door it steps out almost directly onto the bus lane. Therefore any traffic has to be minimised to improve the safety of residents.

Local residents have formed a committee and have now submitted a petition of over 50 signatures stating why they want motorcycles excluded. I have endorsed this and have sent a letter to ECC explaining my reasons.

We now await their reply.

Click here to download

see story at “thisistotalessex” click here

Police have released a CCTV image of a woman after a shopkeeper was abused when a customer was refused cashback.

The incident happened on Boxing Day, December 26 at around 2pm when a woman entered the Moulsham Lodge Food centre co-op, Gloucester Road, Chelmsford.

Woman suspected of committing public order offence in Chelmsford Star Co-op, Gloucester Road, Chelmsford After attempting to use her card to obtain cash, she because abusive and threatening to staff.

She is described as around 5ft 8ins, with long black hair, wearing a black coat, grey cardigan, and black boots, and is aged probably in her late 20s.

Anyone who recognises her should contact investigating officer Pc Jamie Toleman at Chelmsford police station on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Chelmsford Borough Council is creating 1.2 hectares of new woodland as part of a project run by The Woodland Trust.

At the end of November I had the pleasure of taking part in the planting event which kick started the creating of this wood. My wife and I planted around 25 trees including 4 Oaks, one for each member of my family. Hopefully in years to come our Great Grandchildren will be able to sit under the shade of these Oaks and enjoy the park, as i have done since I was a school boy.

Jubilee Woods is the Woodland Trust’s project to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The charity is hoping to plant 6 million trees across the country and is still looking for landowners and people in Chelmsford to get involved by offering land or requesting a pack of free trees.

Find out more at http://jubileewoods.org.uk

Using trees that are native to Britain, the woodland will be populated by oak, ash and small-leaf lime trees, with an under storey of hawthorn and hazel.

The woodland will be planted close to the north-eastern boundary of Hylands Park and Widford Church, linking up existing tree plantations. It will create further areas for wildlife to forage and find shelter and food. Over time the woodland will increase the biodiversity of the area, and act as a natural foil for the industrial estate and Greenbury Way.

Native woodland bulbs are also being planted, and will quickly take hold, providing some welcome spring time colour. Over the years, Jubilee Woods will grow into a beautiful broadleaf canopy, creating dappled shade and leafy walks close to the River Wid, overlooking the historic landscape surrounding Hylands House.

SUCCESS

The path at the bottom of Waltham Glen has now been fixed