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< Back Army Discharge Papers Training and Discharge papers These training and discharge letters belonged to a gentleman in Church Street. He appears to have served 16 years in the Army Reserve Royal Field Artillery Corps at the rank of Gunner, with 192 of those days being abroad. The papers are dated between 1907 and 1916.

Witham Street Warden Wins Award < Back CSAS Awards 2024 2 Oct 2024 Witham Street Warden Wins Award The ‘Essex Community Safety Accreditation Scheme Awards’ took place on 2nd of October 2024 and included nominees from Witham Town Council, Maldon District Council, Colchester City Council, Southend City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Halstead Town Council, Harlow Borough Council and Tendring District Council. The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) gives people targeted powers to tackle crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour. Witham Town Council’s Street Warden Paul joined Witham Town Council as a Street Warden after becoming accredited in December 2023 and is responsible for maintaining and facilitating community safety by being a visible presence in the town. His position was originally funded through the Safer Streets Programme on a temporary basis but due to the success of his role the council will be looking to make his role permanent. Paul was the worthy winner of this year’s award for ‘CSAS Accredited Person of the Year’, beating strong competition from other Street Wardens and Community Safety Officers in Essex. Witham Town Council also received a ‘Certificate of Recognition’ for the outstanding commitment they had shown as a newcomer to the scheme. A spokesperson for Witham Town Council said: “ Since joining our team in 2023, Paul has exemplified dedication, compassion, and a genuine commitment to community safety. Earning the title of ‘CSAS Accredited Person of the Year’ so soon after joining is a remarkable achievement, Paul has become a vital presence in our town, ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents. Paul’s commitment to his role is evident in his willingness to volunteer for additional duties beyond his regular hours. He often stays late to patrol with the police, ensuring our town is safe even during the most challenging times. His dedication extends to early morning and weekend patrols, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to maintaining a secure and peaceful environment. One of Paul’s most impactful initiatives has been his work with Witham’s homeless. Despite not being part of his duties, Paul has taken it upon himself to deliver food parcels to the homeless in his own time. His efforts have gone even further, as he has successfully assisted four long-term homeless individuals in finding local housing. This is a remarkable achievement, considering housing is not within the council’s remit. Paul’s compassion and determination to help those in need have transformed lives as well as reducing the crime that can accompany homelessness. Paul has also been instrumental in improving the cleanliness our town. He has collaborated with the district council to address fly-tipping, utilizing town council CCTV to identify offenders. Additionally, Paul has persuaded businesses to take responsibility for the cleanliness outside their premises, leading to a significant improvement in areas previously neglected areas. Communication and cooperation among local businesses have also been strengthened thanks to Paul’s proactive approach. He established a town-wide WhatsApp group allowing shopkeepers to communicate and share information about shoplifting incidents. This initiative fostered a sense of community among the businesses and led to an increase in the reporting of crime, which was previously underreported due to reluctance among shop owners. Paul has also delivered crime prevention literature on behalf of the police, further supporting efforts to reduce crime in Witham. ” A spokesperson from the Witham United Reformed Church said: “Paul is a kind and caring man who takes his job really seriously and always puts the people in the community first. He is willing to talk to everyone and try to support them through many difficulties in a sensitive but professional manner. Nothing is ever to much bother for him. I get the impression that whilst he is always very professional, he does way beyond what the job requires. He has a heart for those who need help and is keen to help or find solutions wherever he possibly can.” Witham Town Council would like to thank Paul for his hard work, and congratulate him on winning this award. Previous Next

Which Ward am I in? To find your ward, you can either zoom in on the map below and click on an area to see the ward name, or search for your road on this document: Ward Directory-PDF

Elections Applications for the co-option vacancy have now closed. Witham Town Council is comprised of 5 Wards and 16 Councillors. Town Council elections are held every 4 years, the next full election being held in May 2027. Any vacancies that arise in the meantime will be publicised on this page. If you are interested in becoming a councillor, you can find more information on our Become a Councillor page: Become a Town Councillor

Banking at the Town Hall Witham Town Council are pleased to be able to accommodate three banks within the Town Hall to facilitate some continued banking services within the Town. Barclays Bank operate a Barclays Local in our Function Room, on a Monday (9am-4pm) and Friday (9am-3.50pm). They are closed for lunch 12.30-1pm. Halifax have a Community Banker in our Council Chamber on Tuesdays 9am-3pm. Lloyds Bank also have a Community Banker in our Council Chamber on Fridays 9am-3pm. Details of Barclays Bank services available at the Town Hall Details of Halifax services available at the Town Hall Details of Lloyds Bank services available at the Town Hall

Members Allowances Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 Members can claim an allowance to cover the expenses which are normally associated with the basic duties of being a town councillor, travelling and subsistence expenses are treated separately. The level of the allowance must the the same for all but the Chairman of the Council. At a meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 6th September 2021 members resolved to approach Braintree District Council to seek further information regarding the Parish Remuneration Panel and received the following response- “Further to the Town Council’s request received on 27th October 2021 for the District Council’s IRP (Acting as the Parish Remuneration Panel) to consider and make recommendations on the proposed Member Allowances for Witham Town Council, we have been reviewing our IRP as it has been sometime since we have had to call a meeting. A part of that review was to determine the Terms of Office which our Panel Members are able to hold and as consequence we are in the process of recruiting new IRP Members. I regret to have to advised that we will be unable to call a meeting of the IRP by 31st December in accordance with the Town Council’s request to make a recommendations in time for their budget and precepting in January 2022.” As Braintree District Council indicated it was unable to perform its role of Parish Remuneration Panel Under Section 30 of applicable regulations due to governance issues with Terms of Reference, Witham Town Council made the decision to proceed with setting a new allowance in accordance with the regulations, having paid due regard to this fact. It was resolved at a meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 29th November 2021 to set the basic Members’ Allowance for 2022/2023 financial year at £500. Members Allowances 25-26 PDF Members Allowances 22-23 PDF Members Allowances 24-25 PDF Members Allowances 23-24 PDF Members Allowances 21-22 PDF

Allotments Witham Town Council manage over 100 plots over 2 sites: Cut Throat Lane and Wrights Grove. Both sites are regularly maintained and inspected by our Open Spaces team. Having an allotment is good exercise and does wonders for your mental wellbeing as well as providing healthy fruit and vegetables. However, please bear in mind that, while it is enjoyable, having your own allotment is very time consuming and a year-round commitment. A new plot often requires a lot of hard work to get it ready for planting. Your plot will then require daily watering, weeding and maintenance in the growing season while clearing, digging and preparation will be needed over the autumn and winter period. We ask that you give this serious consideration before thinking of becoming an allotment tenant. When a plot becomes available, the person at the top of the waiting list is invited to view the plot in its current state. If they wish to take it on they will be asked to read and sign the Allotment Tenancy Agreement and to pay a deposit of 1 years rent plus the pro rata amount to the end of the current tenancy year, which renews on 1st April. Fees vary according to the size of the plot. Currently we charge 48p per square metre. Tenancy Agreements typically include obligations to keep the plot clean, free from weeds and for paths to be kept tidy and free of detritus. We also require that at least 75% of the plot be cultivated during the growing season. Our Allotment Management Policy is available to read here: Allotment Site Management Policy We currently have no plots available, but if you would like to join our allotment community we have a waiting list for plots. If you would like to be added to the list and are a Witham resident, you can contact us in person by visiting Witham Information Centre, by calling our offices on 01376 520627 or by emailing us on openspacesadmin@witham.gov.uk Alternatively, you can fill in our online form below: Allotment Application Form Please complete all sections of the form paying particular care to your email address and telephone number First name* Last name* Email Phone* Full Address including postcode* Select an allotment site Cut Throat Lane Allotments Wright Grove Allotments No preference I have read and agree with the Privacy Notice * Submit Allotment Application

Our Community Across the following pages, you will find information that may help you, how you could help others and help the planet. Social Isolation Police Community Specials Climate Change Recycling Sunday Cinema Banking at the Town Hall Whetmead Photo Post

History of the Town Hall We are often asked about the history of the Town Hall building, which has formed part of Newland Street for several hundred years. The timber framed building dates back to the 15th century and was originally a coaching Inn called The George. It was given a Georgian frontage in the early 19th century when it was converted to Barclays Bank. The frontage includes a false second storey, complete with windows, to mask the medieval roof behind. In 1939, Barclays Bank moved into the new building next door at 59 Newland Street, and the building was subsequently used as a tobacconist, a showroom for Magnet & Southern and finally Town & Country Building Society before it was bought by Witham Town Council in the early 90's. The building underwent extensive refurbishment before opening as the new home for Witham Town Council and the Heritage Centre. Further recent refurbishments have seen the final transition of the Heritage Centre into an Information Centre fit for the 2020's. We still have a Heritage Room, where we display items from our vault of historic artefacts. In this room you can also see our Tudor style fireplace, which is believed to be Georgian in actual age, which was rescued during the refurbishment of the 1990's from elsewhere within the building. The clock on the outside of the building, which is familiar to so many local residents, didn't actually begin it's life here. Originally, the clock was on the building at 88 Newland Street which was the Constitutional Club. The Constitutional Club ran along Newland Street in front of the Congregational Church (now the United Reformed Church), hiding the church behind it until a fire burnt it down in 1910. The Constitutional Club was demolished, and the clock was moved to the front of 61 Newland Street, where it has stayed. Photos show that the clock dates back to at least 1900 in its original position. The movement inside the clock was renewed in 1932, and then again in the 90's when the clock was electrified. After it was electrified, the movement was removed and preserved in the Information Centre, where you can pop in and see it. It is still in working order and is wound daily. Our Information Centre also boasts a water pump found in the grounds during the renovation, likely to have originated from the George Inn, and a credenza sideboard rescued from the now demolished Gimson's house. If you have anything relating to the history of Witham that you would like to donate under our Public Artefact Donation Scheme, just pop in and see us at the Information Centre. Witham Town Council The local governing body in Witham from 1894-1974 was Witham Urban District Council. Witham Urban District Council was dissolved in 1974 upon the formation of Braintree District Council under the Local Government Act of 1972. Braintree District Council merged five local councils: Braintree and Bocking Urban District, Braintree Rural District, Halstead Rural District, Halstead Urban District, and Witham Urban District Council. After a gap of 8 years, Witham Town Council was formed in 1982, and moved into 61 Newland Street in the early 90's. Chipping Hill Bridge When repair works began on Chipping Hill Bridge in September 22, Councillors were concerned for the integrity of the carved coping stones on the bridge. The carvings were made during World War I by two soldiers billeted to Witham for training before going into war. The coping stones have been left in place, and Witham Town Council employed the services of professional photographer, David Islip, to take a record of the carvings while the bridge was closed to traffic. More information about the bridge and the carvings can be found on the website of local historian, Janet Gyford, at https://www.janetgyford.com/articles/01-chippinghillbridge/

< Back Photographs of fire at Cooper Taber Pair of photographs of fire at Cooper Taber This frame contains two photos of the fire at the Cooper Taber seed warehouse in Avenue Road/Station Road. The fire took place in 1953, and a replacement building was built nearby a few years later in1956. The replacement building was an award winning glass building, photos of which can be viewed on Janet Gyford's website: https://www.janetgyford.com/?s=fire+cooper+taber

< Back Crittall's First Aid Board Framed blackboard with first aiders name and location Many will remember the Crittall Windows factory in Braintree Road that stood where Morrison's now stands. The factory was built around 1919, trading in Witham until the factory closed in 1990. Over the years, the Crittall factory was an integral part of the town. It was used for war production during World War II, and was bombed, although thankfully there were no injuries and little damage. The building was demolished in 1992, but town historian Janet Gyford rescued many items from the building before the site was cleared. Witham Town Council are lucky to have these items in our archives. Crittall Windows later returned to Witham and continue to trade from the Freebournes Industrial Estate. This item is a First Aid board from the factory. Presumably the numbers refer to a location where the first aider could be found.

Become a Town Councillor MAKE A CHANGE BECOME A WITHAM TOWN COUNCILLOR Witham Town Council is made up of 16 Councillors across 5 wards. Full Town Council elections take place every 4 years, the most recent being May 2023 and the next May 2027. There are 3 ways to become a Town Councillor: Ordinary Election Ordinary elections are held every 4 years, and all 16 seats become subject to election. Elected Councillors serve a term of 4 years, taking office 4 days after the election. The next ordinary election will be May 2027. By-Election If a vacancy arises between ordinary elections a by-election may be held for that one seat. The elected councillor will serve the remainder of the term and retire with other councillors at the next ordinary election. Co-Option If an insufficient number of candidates stand for an ordinary election leaving seats vacant, or a by-election is not triggered when a casual vacancy arises, the existing councillors may vote to co-opt a councillor to serve the term. What Does a Town Councillor Do? Town Councillors work together to set the policy direction of the Town Council. Councillors attend regular meetings of the council and its committees to make decisions on a range of matters deciding what services should be delivered, where money should be spent and what policies should be implemented. Councillors represent the local community, both residents of their ward and the town as a whole. Councillors will be contacted by residents who have problems they need assistance with and some councillors can be appointed to serve on outside bodies. Frequently Asked Questions ARE COUNCILLORS PAID? No, our councillors do not receive an allowance. The exception to this is the Town Mayor who receives an allowance to meet the expenses of that office. We do reimburse some expenses such as mileage but we are unable (by law) to reimburse childcare costs. WHO DECIDES IF THERE WILL BE A BY-ELECTION? A casual vacancy arises when a councillor leaves office between ordinary elections. This could be through resignation, death, disqualification or by failing to attend meetings. When a casual vacancy arises, the Town Clerk will publish a notice giving the electors living in the ward 14 working days the opportunity to demand an election. If 10 electors write to the Returning Officer at Braintree District Council to request an election a by-election is triggered. If fewer than 10 request an election, the town council must instead co-opt a councillor to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy occurs within the 6 months before an ordinary election no by-election will be held even if demanded. If a by-election is not demanded the council can choose to leave the vacancy unfilled until the election. WHAT SUPPORT IS PROVIDED? The Town Clerk provides an induction for all new councillors and part of her role is provide advice and support to all councillors. Experienced councillors are often happy to support new councillors ‘find their feet’. We encourage councillors to undertake training relevant to their roles and the needs of the council. WHERE DO THE WARDS COME INTO IT? Witham is divided into five wards (see ward map ): Witham North, Witham South, Witham West, Central Ward and Hatfield Ward. It is the electors of the ward who vote in any given election, a councillor does not have to live in the ward they stand in. In any election, you can only stand once i.e. in one ward. If you stand for more than one you will be not be validly nominated in either. However, you are not tied to a ward, so if you stand for election in Central ward in one election, you could stand in Witham West ward at the next. CAN I BE A MEMBER OF A POLTICAL PARTY / DO I HAVE TO BE? Councillors can stand for election (or co-option) as candidates for a political party, to do so they must have permission from the party, usually through the local branch. Councillors can also be independent of political parties. WHO CAN BE A WITHAM TOWN COUNCILLOR? Anyone aged 18 or over can stand for election (or co-option) if they meet certain qualification criteria. The first is that you are a British citizen, a citizen of either an eligible commonwealth nation or a qualifying EU citizen or EU citizen with retained rights. The second qualification criteria is your connection to Witham; there are four different criteria you could meet and you only need to meet one of them to be able to stand. Registered Elector: You are on the electoral register for Witham at the time of nomination and will remain on it throughout your term of office. Occupied Land in Witham You have occupied land or premises in Witham as owner/tenant for the 12 months preceding nomination (and election) Work in Witham Your main/only place of work is in Witham or has been during the past 12 months – this includes voluntary work if it is the main/only work you undertake. Live in Witham You have lived in Witham (or within 3 miles of the boundary) for the 12 months preceding nomination (and election) You are disqualified from being a Town Councillor if any of the following apply: you are an employee/paid officer of Witham Town Council, you are subject to bankruptcy restrictions order/interim order, you have been sentenced (including suspended sentences) to a term of imprisonment of three months or more within the 5 years prior to polling day or you have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 e.g. for corrupt or illegal electoral practices. Detailed guidance on qualification and disqualification can be found on the Electoral Commission website.