Village News and Events
In Boxted & Langham
Welcome to the latest newsletter.
If you wish to have an item included in this newsletter, please email us at newsandevents@boxted.org.uk by Thursday 5pm at the latest. Thank you.

Saturday 19th April

Church Services
Sunday 20 April

Easter Sunday
9.30 am Easter Communion at St Peter’s Boxted
Sunday 27 April
10.30 am Retirement Service for Rev Anne Mason – St John’s Church, Gt Horkesley

ECC planning decision on
Boxted bridge on 25.04.2025

Disregarding multiple objections including from the Dedham Vale National Landscape Team, Colchester City Council, Boxted and Stoke by Nayland Parishes, and the findings of two expert independent highly experienced conservation engineer recommendations, the Planning Officer’s report on the bridge, read here, (p 23- 119) concludes with a Recommendation for the proposal of replacement on a wider footprint.
The controversial application has been ongoing since 2021. Highways have spent over £500,00 of tax payers money justifying their proposal with desk studies and reports yet none of the following basic essential documents are available for the committee to make a rational decision:
Value for Money Report, Cost of demolition and replacement, Detailed design, Construction Risk Assessment (for building in a flood plain), Safety Audit of the design (for a wider flatter bridge encouraging increased speed), Carbon footprint analysis for a 1300 tonne cement bridge.
Highways have for the last 8 months delayed carrying out any structural calculations to determine the capacity of the current bridge (Dynamic Load Test) whilst keeping it closed since June 2023 on safety grounds. This crucial test and data has been unaccountably delayed by highways for months so that no supporting evidence that the bridge does have strength appears in the planning documents.
We will be speaking at the planning hearing as well as others to put our case forward for the application to be refused and the repair option to be fairly investigated.
SAVE OUR BRIDGE!
Save our bridge campaign can be found at Change.Org.



What’s on in May …

Langham Community Council AGM
Thursday 15 May, 7.30 pm
Langham Community Centre Main Hall

Please attend this meeting if you can and support your Village Hall. The Trustees will present their Annual Report and Accounts to 31st March 2025.
A new Management Committee of Trustees will be elected and appointed. All residents of Langham, aged 18 and over, are eligible to vote at the AGM and to stand for election to the offices of Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
Currently we have no nominations for Chair or Secretary. If you wish to stand for election or to raise an item for discussion, please contact: Liz Winter, Secretary, at libbywinter18@gmail.com
We also require an Independent Examiner of our accounts. Can you help?
Regulars in Boxted
Did you know there is an events calendar for Boxted Village Hall on the Boxted Village Website. Click here to view the calendar .
Pylons in Boxted

For all the latest information regarding the National Grid pylon project, please go to https://pylonseastanglia.co.uk/news/
Sing to beat Parkinsons

Fortnightly Wednesdays 10.30 – noon (term time). £5.00. Contact Emma Bishton at colchester.singtobeat@gmail.com for more information and check session dates at www.ejbmusic.co.uk/colchester
Boxted Royal British Legion

Check out the latest events on the RBL Facebook page.
All are welcome to all events
Email boxted.legion@gmail.com for further information
Forest Church

Fourth Saturday every month, 3pm, St Peter’s Churchyard
Boxted Bingo!

Contact Dot for more details on 01206 272676
Boxted History Group

3rd Wednesday of each month
Boxted Village Hall – 7.30 pm
For further information call 01206 272774

2nd Tuesday of the month 7.30pm @ Boxted Village Hall
Contact:
Geraldine Russell 07840 746953
Email Essex HQ @ admin@essexwi.org.uk
Find us on Facebook
Art and Craft Club

3rd Wednesday of each month 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall
Bowls club

Every Friday 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall

Our club meets in the village hall every fourth Thursday of the month from 2.00pm to 3.30pm. The age of our members varies but the club would suit anyone over 60, so please come along and you would be given a warm welcome. Our members are always asked for their suggestions before our yearly entertainment programme is arranged and we do try our best to cater for everyone. If you would like more information about our club please call Linda on 01206 272710 or Elaine on 01206 273183.
Monthly Pencil Art

Contact willowsofdedham@gmail.com for more info
Mobile library
10.10am – 10.40am
Boxted Village Hall car park

Thursdays;
13 February
6 March
27 March
17 April
8 May
29 May
19 June
10 July
31 July
21 August
11 September
2 October
23 October
13 November
4 December
You can call our Contact Centre on 0345 603 7628 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, to speak to an advisor, or use the 24-hour automated service (option 1) to renew your items (also at weekends).
The Edge & The Zone

The Zone for 6-11 year olds 5.30pm-7pm and the Edge for 12-18 year olds 7.30pm-9.00pm. Fortnightly during term time at St Peter’s Church. Contact Linda Sheil 01206 273324
Regulars in Langham

The Langham Community Centre hosts a wide range of regular clubs and unique activities. Many of these groups would welcome new members, so don’t hesitate to browse the ‘Activities’ page on the website or see the Facebook page to find out more.
If you have an idea for a new club or event, please contact Sue Armstrong by calling 07741 284132 or emailing LanghamCC@gmail.com to further discuss your idea.

Langham Ladies meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 7:30pm – 10:00pm at Langham Community Centre. Contact Gill Brown on 01206 273286 or Tricia Gooding on 01206 230510.
Langham Community Cafe

Main Hall of the Community Centre on the last Friday of each month, from 10:30am until midday. All are welcome to join us for coffee/tea and cakes.
Beer and the Bible

Mobile Library
Moor Road, Langham, 9.35am – 10.05am

Thursdays;
13 February
6 March
27 March
17 April
8 May
29 May
19 June
10 July
31 July
21 August
11 September
2 October
23 October
13 November
4 December
You can call ourContact Centre on 0345 603 7628 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, to speak to an advisor, or use the 24-hour automated service (option 1) to renew your items (also at weekends).
In the Community
Join the Boxted Players for their 10th anniversary pantomime with an original take on a classic tale with Dorothy whisked off to a magical place far away from her rural roots.
For tickets search ‘Boxted’ on www.wegottickets.com or call into Harper’s Caffe at Boxted Hub
Adults £10.00, children (under 16) £5.00

Aldercar Wood is a locally run club for any of us wanting to get a good deal for heating oil. To sign up, please provide your name and email address to aldercarwood@gmail.com.
East Anglia GREEN project update

Following the name change we have also updated our project contact details which you can now use to get in touch with us here:
– contact@n-t.nationalgrid.com
– FREEPOST N TO T
– www.nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury
Langham Community Shop now has leaflets regarding National Grid’s Norwich to Tilbury pylon/cables plan. If you would like to object to their proposals, please pick up and complete the forms, which can be left at the Shop to be sent to the Secretary of State.
You can also find the petition online at: https://pylonseastanglia.co.uk/
or join the Facebook group at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/718238339216424/
North Colchester Men’s Shed

Contact Roger Newnham 07988 736571 for more details.
Food bank donations

Food bank collection points are at Boxted British Legion Club, St Peter’s Church, Boxted, St Mary’s Church Langham and Langham Community Shop
Find out what’s needed and how you can help. Go to: https://colchester.foodbank.org.uk/
Good Neighbours
For help with transport to an important appointment (hospital, dentist, flu/covid booster, collection of prescriptions or a visit for some company. Call so we can help, Monday to Friday, 8am – 7pm:
- Monday……….230525 or 272773
- Tuesday……….271813 or 273195
- Wednesday….272755 or 272013
- Thursday……..07842 034489 or 323007 or 07765 037892
- Friday………… 07510 504026
Please phone for the day on which you make your call, not the day of your appointment.
