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.
Beautiful Boxted
We’re lucky in Boxted to have wide open vistas of the sky allowing us to view wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The photo above shows a north-east evening view across fields
Church Services
Sunday 12 July
9.30 am Holy Communion
St Mary’s Langham
Boxted History Group
Wednesday 15 July
Boxted Village Hall, 7.30 pm
This month: Tudor Costumes and Food
For further information call 01206 272774 or contact Scott on 07904 887000.
Proposed new housing development in Boxted
Bellway Homes has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment document to Colchester City Council relating to the proposed 150-home housing development on the land north of Straight Road at Boxted Cross.
The full document submissions can be found on Colchester City Council planning portal under Case Summary 261070, and include Bellway Homes Screening Opinion Request, Colchester Planning Department’s response and three objections.
Update Boxted Bridge
Let’s Get Boxted Bridge Tested For Vehicle Use
Dear Supporters
We are frustrated not to have more to report to you since our last update. The local elections in May have not helped, although our new Essex County Councillor, Sara Naylor, is a strong supporter of our campaign and has pledged to work with us for ‘a fix that’s fit for a heritage asset’. ECC’s new Reform Cabinet has been too preoccupied developing their strategy in the last month to turn their attention to Boxted Bridge. Sara has, however, a meeting scheduled later in July to discuss the bridge with Cllr. Mark Webster, the new Portfolio Holder for Highways.
The minutes of the meeting with Highways and Ed Morton on March 18th have finally been published. It is disappointing that Ed Morton’s question on ‘why the bridge wasn’t tested for vehicles?’ and the Structures Manager’s response ‘Essex County Council had not instructed them to’ was not recorded despite his having asked for it to be included.
The following agreed Actions from the [18.03.2026] meeting are still outstanding:
- The assessment from the Accolade load test model has not yet been published or discussed with Ed Morton as agreed. This would be the beginning of an engineering assessment to check if the bridge can carry vehicles
- As far as we are aware, Highways have not investigated further the list of Local Authorities that have accepted the Dynamic Load Test, sent to them shortly after the meeting by Ed Morton as agreed.
We are very pleased, that our complaint has been successful, made to the ECC Regulatory and Compliance Officer, asking for Essex Highways to amend their repeated, misleading public statements that “the previous load test found the bridge unsafe for vehicles”.
We continue to press for quantitative assessment. There should already be enough preliminary data from Accolade, to feed into a model based on the bridge’s technical specifications, and produce a meaningful first assessment. Mann Williams’ DLT would refine this to the next level.
Suffolk CC appear as exasperated as us by the continued closure affecting border villages. Suffolk County Cllr Darius Laws has publicly stated:
“If Essex won’t resolve to fix this headache perhaps it’s time to give the bridge to Suffolk? I am beyond tired of this situation, it is directly impacting our border villages and frankly an embarrassment.”
As always please get in touch with me if you have any queries.
Best wishes
Lucinda de Jasay
Langham Film Nights
Saturday 25 July
Langham Community Centre
Doors Open from 7.00pm, film starts at 7.30pm
Until someone invents a time machine, this movie is the only way you will get a chance to experience one of the most electrifying performers of the 20th century at the absolute height of his charisma and musicianship.
While it is unlikely to tell you much you don’t already know, this is a must-see for Presley fans and a boisterously enjoyable watch even for Elvis agnostics.
What’s on in August …
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 or contact Scott on 07904 887000.
- 18 February: Edwardian Colchester
- 18 March: Seven Wonders of the Waterways
- 15 April: £10 Poms. We Chose New Zealand
- 20 May: Roman Findings
- 15 July: Tudor Costumes and Food
- 16 September: Suffragettes
- 21 October: London Docklands
- 18 November Colchester’s Jumbo
- 16 December Christmas Special
Membership £15 for the year or £5 per evening.
Other events include:
Wednesday 19 August: Trip to Hadleigh Guildhall £10
Saturday 28 February: Quiz Night £5 per person
Thursday 18 June: Trip to Stow Maries £20 entry and cream tea
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.
Mobile library
10.10am – 10.40am, Boxted Village Hall car park
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).
2026 dates:
15 January
05 February
26 February
19 March
09 April
30 April
21 May
11 June
02 July
23 July
13 August
03 September
24 September
15 October
05 November
26 November
17 December
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
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).
2026 dates:
15 January
05 February
26 February
19 March
09 April
30 April
21 May
11 June
02 July
23 July
13 August
03 September
24 September
15 October
05 November
26 November
17 December
In the Community
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.
Boxted Village Website 