Epping Round Up

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 13th Jan 2005

Here is a round up other problems affecting the Epping Area:

HAZEL'S POND PROBLEM

Hazel emailed local councillor Janet Whitehouse to complain about the state of the pond at Broad Oaks. "I was very pleased to receive Hazel's email" said Janet.

"The pond doesn't belong to the council but I raised her request with the London and Quadrant Housing Association which agreed to clean out the rubbish."

BUSES FACE AXE

The 200, 201 and 203 buses are under threat from Conservative controlled Essex County Council. The services my be withdrawn in August 2005 because of low use. If you have ideas to increase the number of passengers, for example through changing timetable or introducing a slightly different route, please email Janet Whitehouse at janet.whitehouse@eflibdems.org

COUNTRYSIDE CARE

Countrycare- the district council's countryside management service- has installed new kissing gates and improved the surface of some of the public footpaths around Epping and Theydon Bois after local Liberal Democrats took up walkers' complaints.

EMPTY HOUSE SCANDAL

After hearing that the caretaker's house at Ongar Secondary School was empty for eight years before being demolished recently, county councillor Janet Whitehouse has asked Essex County Council to review how it deals with empty properties.

"When so many families in Epping Forest are desperate for homes it's scandalous that this house wasn't offered for rent" she said.