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Featured News |
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| We feature selected
news here, that is important to Loughton and LRA. For other news, please search our News Emails and Loughton Life. |
 Local Government RestructureWith Essex now in the government’s Priority Programme for devolution, the Government has launched a public consultation on the changes. More |
 Central Line Service
DisruptionLondon Travelwatch has published their view on the problems with the Central Line over the past year. More |
 District
Council Waste and Recycling CollectionsThe District Council has now decided to replace single use clear plastic recycling sacks with a blue lidded wheeled bin to reduce ongoing costs and provide more efficient service delivery. More |
 LRA's 2024 Christmas
QuizThank you to all of you who sent in your entry for the Christmas quiz. Here are the answers. |
 The Broadway RefurbishmentA November start is being planned. Scaffolding is to be erected in January 2025 to avoid any potential disruption to the commercial tenants during the Christmas trading period. More |
 Charging to drive
through an Epping Forest Clean Air Zone?With 2025 now a few months away, it is self-evident that the Council has no intention of introducing a CAZ next year. In the meantime the Council is approving the development of new buildings near to the Forest whose residents will generate more pollution in the Forest, and it is extracting significant sums from the developers to pay for anti-pollution measures which may never be carried out. More |
| The Broadway Refurbishment Work is expected to start in October or November, with the contract period being 12 months. More |
 West Side of the High Road Redevelopment?In 2019 the District Council bought a row of shops on the west side of the High Road, from numbers 200 (previously M&Co) to 226 (now Phone Clinic) for £23.8 million. The Council is now considering redevelopment of the properties to provide modern commercial space with residential units above. More |
 Demolition of Loughton
LibraryThe County Council have not provided any update for Loughton Library, but they have announced plans for Colchester Library where they plan to close the library for one year for refurbishment, with nearby libraries opening for longer hours to compensate. More |
 Election 2024Residents voted convincingly for LRA candidates for Loughton Town Council. They also voted in 13 LRA candidates for District Council. More |
 13-15A
Alderton HillDeveloper's Appeal Refused The Planning Inspector has turned down the developer’s appeal against the District Council’s refusal of an 89-unit care home at the lower end of Alderton Hill – a very welcome decision. More |
| LRA's 2023 Christmas
Quiz Thank you to all of you who sent in your entry for the Christmas quiz. Here are the answers. |
 Higgins
Office and Hotel DevelopmentThe planning application has now been approved by the District Council. More |
 Are
Potholes and Road Defects Everywhere?In the current financial year, there is a (limited) funding pot enabling County Cllrs to nominate defects to be fixed (but only those in carriageways, not footways). More |
 New District Local PlanThe new Local Plan was considered at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on 6 March and the Plan was duly adopted. LRA Cllrs (as always) had a free vote. More |
 Pyrles Lane
former Nursery siteThere is a new planning application for redevelopment of the former Pyrles Lane Nursery site to provide 30 flats and 18 houses. A consultation is underway until February 13th. You can make your views known now. More |
 LRA's 2022 Christmas
QuizThank you to all of you who sent in your entry for the Christmas quiz – and to the many other families who had a go (and didn’t hesitate to tell us which questions caused problems!). The answers are here. |
| Loughton's
Water Supply Residents may have noticed some recent short interruptions to their water supply recently, and held their breath hoping there wouldn't be a repeat of the incidents in late 2021. Thankfully, supply was only interrupted for a short time. More, including what to do about water supply problems. |
 Elections on May 5thUpdated 13 May 2022 LRA offered great candidates for the 5th May elections. Thank you to all residents who supported LRA. More |
 LRA's 2021 Christmas
QuizThere were a record number of entries for this year’s quiz. Thank you to everyone who entered who wrote to say how much they enjoyed the quiz – and a Happy New Year to you all. More |
| Covid-19/Coronavirus The NHS is to offer Booster vaccines to every adult by the end of December. Find out more about getting your 1st, 2nd, and Booster dose of the Covid vaccine, including vaccine advice on pregnancy and fertility, the Essex Vax Van, and FAQs on vaccinations for 12 to 15 year olds. More |
 Remembrance
Sunday ParadeThe commemorations took place on Sunday November 14th, beginning with the Annual Parade from Loughton's Royal British Legion Headquarters in Church Hill to the War Memorial, followed by two minutes' silence on Kings Green. This was followed by the Remembrance Service and Poppy Wreath ceremony, and ended with the march off up Church Hill. More |
 Luctons Field, Borders
LaneUpdated 10 September 2021 We are sorry to see that building work has begun on the site, which have now been enclosed by hoardings. LRA Plans Group (LRAPG) has opposed these developments root and branch. More |
 Epping Forest College Middle Site,
Borders
LaneWe are sorry to see that building work has begun on the site, which have now been enclosed by hoardings. LRA Plans Group (LRAPG) has opposed these developments root and branch. More |
 Elections on May 6thUpdated 8 May 2021 LRA offered impressive candidate teams for every voter and residents overwhelmingly endorsed those teams. LRA Cllrs, existing and new, will work for residents in the councils. We want to make our town an even better place to live. More |
| County
Council elections – LRA in the lead For some years, LRA Cllr Chris Pond has been leading the small group of Independent Non-aligned Group (the NAG) of Cllrs on the County Council. As result of the recent elections, the new NAG (10 Cllrs) is now larger than the Liberal Democrat group (8 Cllrs) and the Labour group (5 Cllrs); this means that Chris has become Leader of the 'Opposition' on the Council. More |
| LRA's 2020 Christmas
Quiz Thank you to all of you who sent your entries for the quiz. The answers are here. |
| Remembrance
Sunday Because of the lockdown, most of the usual events had to be cancelled this year. Nevertheless, as usual, LRA Cllr David Wixley laid a wreath from LRA at the War Memorial on Kings Green. Three arches were also erected and bedecked with knitted poppies on Kings Green to honour the fallen and to celebrate VE Day and VJ Day; these were designed by the The Woodlands Branch Essex Handicrafts Association. More |
| Central Line - Service
Reductions north of Loughton from January 2020 The new timetable started on 26th January, although there are reports of trains on the timetable not appearing. More |
 LRA's 2019 Christmas QuizWhat a clever lot you were! The sender of the first all-correct answer out of the hat will be receiving a £15 book token. More |
| Where has all my
recycling gone? LRA Cllrs Chris Pond and David Wixley recently had a trip round the plant at Angel Road Edmonton where all your kerbside dry recycling is taken. More |
 Alderton Hill ClosureAlderton Hill Bridge is undergoing bridge strengthening work during the school summer break. This means Alderton Hill is closed to all traffic between Roding Road and Old Station Road. The road is due to reopen by Monday 2 September as planned. If this changes we will let you know on Twitter. More |
| Essex
Libraries Following a great deal of public and political pressure, the leader of the County Council has said that all 74 libraries would remain open for at least five years, so that includes Debden, Buckhurst Hill, and Chigwell. More |
 Broadway
Area Parking Review Phase 2Updated 5 March 2019 The District Council will make the final decisions on parking restrictions. However, LRA understands that the scheme will NOT go ahead in the form published last October. Before anything more is done on introducing a Controlled Parking Zone, NEPP officers will conduct a safety audit of road junctions, bus routes, schools etc to identify where safety restrictions are needed. LRA argues that permits should be used only where life for residents is made very difficult by commuters. No further information is available at present. When we know more, we’ll let residents know on social media & markets. More |
 Epping
Forest College to sell off landUpdated 12 January 2019 We understand the College are selling off for housing two sites the site of the former College buildings (west of the current College building) and Lucton’s field (opposite the College). More |
| All
night street-lights Updated 12 January 2019 The District Council have negotiated with the County Council to allow individual town or parish councils to opt to have street-lights on all night – but paid for by local Council taxpayers. More |
| Crime in Loughton Updated 25 September 2018 Recently, residents have become increasingly concerned about crime, particularly crime by youths (and on youths). Marion Barclay arranged two public meetings at Loughton Club, ably chaired by Independent Cllr Stephen Murray, which were very well-attended by residents and by LRA Cllrs, and where residents could raise specific issues and the police could explain what they were doing. More |
 Alderton Hill ClosureUpdated 29 July 2018 Alderton Hill will be closed from the Roding Road to the mini-roundabout by Loughton station for around 5 weeks from end-July! This will cause traffic chaos. The road is being closed this summer – and in summer 2019 – to replace the road bridge across the brook. More |
 District Council Elections on 3rd
MayUpdated 4 May 2018 Elections for the Epping Forest District Council were held on Thursday 3 May 2018. We are delighted that LRA’s candidates for the Epping Forest District Council were all re-elected. More |
 Vote LRA on 3rd MayUpdated 4 April 2018 We want to continue our work for Loughton so please vote for us this year, so we can keep helping us to help you! The positive impact LRA continues to have on Loughton is undeniable – we strive to keep Loughton a good place to live in. More |
| Broadway Area
Parking Review Updated 29 January 2018 LRA is pressing for Phase 2 of the parking scheme to go ahead asap, looking at the parking in roads within about 15 minutes’ walk of Debden station, and for action by the District Council to free up parking for Broadway shoppers, currently clogged up by commuters More |
| Forest
Road/Smarts Lane Area Parking Review Updated 29 January 2018 Residents’ parking is now in operation. Without warning, NEPP has launched a 6-month temporary parking waiver (at £245) for businesses – We are watching whether the temporary parking waivers for businesses affects parking for residents. . More |
 Langston
Road Retail Park DevelopmentThe Conservative-led District Council has failed on its promises to attract predominantly fashion-led shops to the retail park, and has still not managed to fill all the units. While many residents welcome the wide range of outlets, there are signs that trade on The Broadway (where the shops are also owned by the Council) is being adversely affected. There are signs that the District Council is finally starting to see sense on funding a bus service to the new shops, which LRA has been pressing for since the start of the project The Chigwell Lane roadworks dragged on far longer than originally promised; the traffic lights still need adjusting to match the traffic-flow, and more railings are needed at the Borders Lane junction. More |
 LRA’s
Farmers markets - changes to second Sundays!We're very sorry our suppliers, Essex Farmers Markets, had to cancel the market on 10 December – we were looking forward to seeing residents & visitors, and to carols from some of the Roding Players. The next regular High Road market will be on Sunday January 14th. |
| LRA
in the News - Commuter parking causing problems Updated 23 November 2017 Read about LRA in the local press. Courtesy Epping Forest Guardian |
| LRA in the
News - Looking
out for Loughton Updated 9 November 2017 Read about LRA in the local press. Courtesy Epping Forest Guardian |
 LuXe, 126 High RoadUpdated 14 October 2017 The leaseholders have converted the premises to a gastro-pub. More |
 Elections
2017 - Thank you for voting for Chris Pond's re-election |
| Kings Green Area
Parking Review Updated 19 March 2017 One of the residents of this row of cottages asked LRA Cllr Chris Pond whether anything could be done about their parking problems. Unusually, this is a small area and residents were prepared to make a unanimous request to NEPP (things are rarely this simple!) More |
| Nu-Bar,
High Road/Old Station Road Updated 19 March 2017 A District Council Licensing Sub-committee met on recently – you can see the agenda papers and background documents. A new licence was granted, following an agreement between Greene King, the Premises Licence Holders, and the Police. This followed a Review of the Licence in May 2016 and closure of the premises by the police in February 2017 because of multiple breakings of the conditions of the licence. More |
| Council Tax 2017-18 Here's what is happenuing with the Council Tax you pay, from April 2017. More |
| LRA's 2016 Christmas Quiz What a clever lot you are! The sender of the first all-correct answer out of the hat has chosen a bottle of fizz. More and the answers |
 167
Bus RouteBus route 167 has been cut short at Loughton Station from 11 March. The people who are responsible for this are the County Council’s (Conservative) Cabinet member, Harlow Cllr Eddie Johnson (as Essex withdrew their subsidy), and the Director of Surface Transport at TfL, Leon Daniels (as TFL decided to claw back the lost subsidy by curtailing the route). More |
| LRA's 2016 Christmas Quiz There’s been a lot of focus on Europe this year, so the LRA Christmas quiz is following the trend, and is featuring European towns and cities. Try our quiz. There's a book token or fizz to the first correct answer out of the hat. More |
 LuXe, 126 High RoadUpdated 25 September 2016 The District Council Planning Committee met on September 21st and considered a planning application on behalf of the freeholders to demolish the current building and replace it with 3 floors of flats and a restaurant on the ground floor and basement. The committee unanimously rejected (except for 5 abstentions) the application because of the bulk of the proposed replacement building and because it would mean the demolition of an (undesignated) heritage asset. More |
| Oaklands
School, Albion Hill Oaklands School, Albion Hill have appealed against the District Council’s rejection of their recent planning application. The school applied for 30 more pupil places and a car-park and drop-off area on land off Warren Hill. More |
 Royal
Mail Sorting Office site, High RoadThere is a proposal to redevelop the site as 30 flats with 24 off-road parking spaces. More |
 Nu-Bar
& LuXeLRA has long argued for midnight closing for all licensed premises in residential areas, and for changes which would end Loughton being a late-night venue for people from all over London & Essex. It’s now possible that things may be moving in the right direction! Nu-Bar’s licence now requires them to stop selling alcohol at midnight, with a half-hour drinking-up time (so 12.30am closing time), plus various conditions on how the premises should be operated. They have accepted this, and have re-opened. More |
 2016
ElectionUpdated 7 May 2016 Elections for the Epping Forest District Council and the Loughton Town Council were held on Thursday 5 May 2016. We are delighted that LRA’s candidates for the Epping Forest District Council and Loughton Town Council were successfully elected in all 28 of the seats we stood in. We are very grateful to those who stood as candidates, to those who worked so hard to support them, and to all those who voted for us! Our Independent non-political Cllrs promise to continue to work on behalf of all Loughton’s residents. Results and details of our candidates. |
LRA
Cllr Ken Angold-StephensUpdated 10 April 2016 We are very sorry to tell you that one of our most active and long-standing Cllrs, Ken Angold-Stephens, has died, after a period of serious illness. As well as his council involvement, Ken has been heavily involved in helping to run LRA. Ken had served as one of LRA’s Roding ward councillors at both the District and Town Councils, and as a Governor at Staples Road school, from 2004. He was Loughton Mayor (2009-10) and Epping Forest District Council Chairman (2011-12). |