Open Space Management Sub-Committee The group oversees the day-to-day management of Witham Town Council owned and leased open spaces including – the River Walk, James Cooke Wood, Whetmead Nature Reserve and All Saints Closed Churchyard. They are responsible for management plans, projects of interest and any issues relating to Witham Town Council managed open spaces. They report to the Environment Committee and meet every 8 weeks. Agenda for Meeting 2nd September 2026 PDF Minutes for Meeting 2nd September 2026 Agenda for Meeting 3rd June 2026 PDF Minutes for Meeting 3rd June 2026

Estimates Committee The Estimates Committee is responsible for establishing the Council’s budget for the coming financial year and meets only once a year. The Estimates Committee will meet at 7.30 pm in the council chamber in the Town Hall on Tuesday 16th December 2025. Members of the Press and Public are welcome to attend the Estimate Committee Meetings. Local residents are invited to address the meeting on any item on the agenda, speaking for a maximum of 3 minutes. Members of the Committee Cllr E Adeleja Cllr P Barlow Cllr JC Coleman (Vice Chair) Cllr JM Coleman Cllr B Fleet Cllr P Heath (Chair) Cllr J Martin Cllr J Robertson Agenda for Meeting 16th December 2025 PDF Minutes for Meeting 16th December 2025 PDF

< Back Dance Leaflet Advertising Leaflet for Dancing and Physical Culture This leaflet advertising Miss Betty Page and her Dancing and Physical Culture lessons. The leaflet is among a collection of papers previously belonging to tenants of 61 Newland Street during the renovations when it was converted into the Town Hall. A date inside the leaflet shows it to be from 1927/28. Miss Betty Page has given her address as 'The Grange, Witham', a property that is featured on the Witham Town Trail here: https://www.withamtowntrail.com/copy-of-ch-the-railway

< Back Easter Trail Saturday, 4 April 2026 Our Easter Trail takes place each year on Easter Saturday. This free ticketed event starts at Guithavon Green and follows the River Walk towards Maldon Road. Participating children have a booklet of items to find along the way, and are rewarded with an Easter Egg at the end of the trail. Booking is essential for this very popular event, and details of ticket releases are published on our social media. Tickets release details will be published near to release date . Tickets are required for children only, up to a maximum of 4 tickets per booking. PLEASE NOTE: so that as many children as possible get the opportunity to attend this free event, multiple bookings across different timeslots will be cancelled. BEWARE of scammers offering to sell their tickets, this is a FREE event Easter 2026. Photos by David Islip. The weather stayed dry for our 2025 Easter Trail where we welcomed over 600 children to the River Walk. As well as egg spotting, the children could visit the petting farm at the end after collecting their prize egg. Pictures by Natasha Donna Photography At our 2024 event, the weather was warm and sunny and the day was enjoyed by over 500 children. As well as finding the items in their booklet, the children were met on the way by a magician and Essex Police who gave them the opportunity to see inside their van. Photos by David Islip Easter 2023 Easter 2022 Previous Next

Witham Town Council unveil new children’s nature trail on Whetmead Nature Reserve < Back New Whetmead Nature trail 3 Apr 2024 Witham Town Council unveil new children’s nature trail on Whetmead Nature Reserve Witham Town Council are thrilled to announce the opening of an exciting new children’s nature trail on Whetmead Nature Reserve in Blackwater Lane, Witham. The trail features fifteen nature posts located throughout the reserve offering families and young explorers the opportunity to engage with the diverse wildlife found at Whetmead. Each post includes a wildlife etching panel allowing wonderful rubbings of birds, animals, insects and trees to be created while providing interesting facts on wildlife found on the reserve for those taking part in the trail. Visitors can bring their own paper and crayons or purchase a nature trail booklet with crayons included for £2.40 at the Information Centre in the Town Hall in Newland Street which is open Mondays to Thursdays 9am to 4.30pm and Fridays 9am to 3.50pm. The Information Centre also stocks a range of nature spotting books for £3.99 as well as other items for young nature lovers to purchase to continue their wildlife discovery adventures. This is an exciting addition to the nature reserve and comes as the final part of current enhancements to the site made possible through developer funding specifically allocated for making improvements to Whetmead Nature Reserve. Witham Town Council, utilising Section 106 developer funding collected by Braintree District Council, have also installed new steps, an interpretation board and additional planting as part of the project which enriches the overall experience for visitors. Councillor Phil Barlow, Chairman of the Section 106 Steering Group, said “We are extremely pleased to complete this project utilising Section 106 funds available to improve our much loved nature reserve. We hope that the nature trail itself will provide an engaging outdoor learning experience, promising fun and discovery which will inspire a new generation of nature and environmental enthusiasts. We are looking forward to continuing with further projects to improve our open spaces in the town in the future. ”. Whetmead Nature Reserve was once a council landfill site and when it became full, it was turned into an area of open space and became a nature reserve in 1991 for all to enjoy. Further information about the nature reserve and trail can be obtained by contacting Witham Town Council on 01376 520627 or by visiting the Information Centre at the Town Hall. Previous Next

Witham Town Council in partnership with The Bee Friendly Trust have created a bee garden < Back New Bee Friendly Planting Area on Witham’s River Walk 28 Feb 2024 Witham Town Council in partnership with The Bee Friendly Trust have created a bee garden Witham Town Council in partnership with The Bee Friendly Trust have created a bee garden on the edge of the River Walk near River View. The haven includes bird boxes, 3 bee hotels for solitary bees, rosemary bushes, olive trees, skimmia, euphorbia, cytisus ivy, verbena, cornflower and sunflower seeds and geraniums together with an information board of bee facts. This beautiful area with its proximity to the river makes it a perfect spot for bees. This exciting project has been funded with developer Section 106 money from Braintree District Council which was specifically allocated for landscaping in this area. It is designed to provide much needed support for nature, in particular bees whose populations have been in decline worldwide as a result of habitat loss, pesticide usage and climate change. Witham Town Council are delighted with the project and a spokesperson said “Witham Town Council and Braintree District Council are both committed to encouraging biodiversity and combatting the effects of Climate Change locally and we will continue to look at ways of supporting our wildlife, promoting nature recovery and ensuring Witham is a beautiful place to live.” Previous Next

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

Witham Town Council Secures Unanimous Support for 2025-2026 Precept < Back Witham Town Council Precept 2025-2026 14 Jan 2025 Witham Town Council Secures Unanimous Support for 2025-2026 Precept Witham Town Council Secures Unanimous Support for 2025-2026 Precept On Monday, Witham Town Council unanimously approved the town's share of the council tax for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The decision, supported by all parties, will see a modest increase of 15p per week for band D properties, bringing the total cost to £2.14 per week for all services provided by the Town Council. Councillor Phil Barlow, Leader of Witham Town Council, emphasised the value residents receive: "Every penny raised is spent locally, ensuring Witham remains a safe, enjoyable, and healthy place for all our residents. At just over £2 a week, we offer exceptional value for the wide range of services we provide." The precept will fund essential services and community initiatives, including:  Maintenance of the Town Hall, which houses vital services such as the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinic and a Community Banking Hub.  Operation of the Information Centre, providing assistance to residents  Management of allotments  Upkeep of Whetmead Nature Reserve, James Cooke Wood, the Closed Churchyard, and the River Walk  Witham's floral displays and Christmas light decorations  Expanded free community events calendar, including commemorations for the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day  Continued support for community safety initiatives, including CCTV cameras, Witham Special Constabulary and the Street Warden program  Town Park toilets (the rest of the park is owned and managed by Braintree District Council)  Some 60+ streetlights that the Council own and operate  Grants to organisations such as Citizens Advice and The Witham Carnival The Council is particularly focused on supporting vulnerable residents and those less able to afford activities, reflected in the increased number of free events planned for the coming year. Residents are invited to attend the annual public meeting in April, where councillors will provide a detailed overview of the Council's activities and plans for the future. For more information, visit the Town Council website, refer to the Witham Voice, or visit the Town Hall. Previous Next

Another Unforgettable Event < Back Witham Street Entertainment Festival 20 Sept 2025 Another Unforgettable Event Thousands came to Witham on Saturday, 20th September for another unforgettable Witham Street Entertainment Festival. With Newland Street transformed into a pedestrian-friendly avenue of colour, music, and spectacle, this year’s festival once again cemented its place as a signature event in the town’s event calendar. Crowds enjoyed a fun-filled day packed with vibrant performances and interactive workshops. Festivalgoers of all ages joined in the fun, with highlights including lively shows from headline acts such as Oyster Opera, The Pop Up Barn Dance, and Emoto-Matic. Street performers delighted audiences at every turn, with Big Mob B-Boys’ jaw-dropping breakdancing, Angie Mack’s crowd-pleasing hula hoop routines, and the inventive artistry of Octopus Ocean and Shrinking Violets. Family-friendly attractions were everywhere—children marvelled at the Puppet Petting Farm and Walkabout Trees, while visitors of all ages were drawn into the stories, music, and surprises dotted throughout Newland Street, Lockram Lane Car Park, Grove Shopping Centre, and Newlands Shopping Centre. Local favourites such as Titan the Robot and Team Kinetix kept the festive spirit alive all day long. The final act of the festival was sponsored by Essex Cultural Diversity Project and was a performance from artist Dulce Duca supported by local band Project Osiris and Phina Circus and Dance. Councillor Paul Heath, The Mayor of Witham, said: “We are thrilled by the turnout and the fantastic community spirit that defines the Witham Street Entertainment Festival each year. This event not only brings joy and creativity to our town but supports local businesses and provides lasting memories for families and friends.” With thanks to the performers, council staff and enthusiastic volunteers such as St John Ambulance who made the day possible. Previous Next

Witham Town Council secures funding to continue Witham’s vision for the future < Back Witham Town Council Precept 2024-25 12 Jan 2024 Witham Town Council secures funding to continue Witham’s vision for the future On Monday, Town Councillors overwhelmingly agreed that Witham’s share of the district’s council tax will rise by 26p a week for band D residents from April. Most householders in Witham live in band B and C properties and consequently will pay slightly less. Witham Town Council receives the smallest proportion from the overall council tax yet provides Witham with a wealth of services at less than £2 week. The money covers the cost of the Town Hall, which houses the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinic and Barclays hub since the bank’s closure, as well as the Information Centre, whose friendly staff help residents with their queries and concerns. The precept further funds the management of the allotments with a new site opening this year, Witham’s spectacular summer floral displays, the Christmas light decorations and most prominently the overall maintenance of Whetmead Nature Reserve, James Cooke Wood, the Closed Churchyard and the “Jewel in the Crown”, The River Walk. In addition, there are plans this year to increase the number of free events organised by the Town Council, following positive feedback from the recent survey in the quarterly Voice magazine. The Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Spooktacular, Santa’s grotto and highly successful Street Entertainment Festival and Christmas Fayre will continue and the recent additions of the Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Music Festival will be retained in the event’s calendar as well as the Dog Show returning due to popular demand. Witham Town Council is particularly focused on community safety and has this year overseen the installation of a number of CCTV cameras across the town and manages their ongoing usage. The Council supports a newly appointed Street Warden as well as Witham’s Special Constables, who attend surgeries at the Hub. The Council also facilitates a Community Beat surgery twice monthly at The Town Hall with Essex Police for residents to voice any concerns. Going forward, there are plans to fund more services including speed reduction measures. The leader of Witham Town Council, Councillor Phil Barlow is proud of what Witham achieves “We believe that, at less than £2 a week, we offer outstanding value for money to Witham’s residents. We are committed to making Witham a safe enjoyable and healthy place to live for everyone and this will help make those plans a reality”. The annual public meeting will be held in April where Councillors explain what the Council does in more detail and all the Council’s elected member details are available on the Town Council website, in the Witham Voice or in the Town Hall. Previous Next

Witham to bid for UK Town of Culture 2028 – residents invited to help shape a multi‑million pound cultural vision < Back Witham to bid for UK Town of Culture 2028 16 Feb 2026 Witham to bid for UK Town of Culture 2028 – residents invited to help shape a multi‑million pound cultural vision Witham Town Council has confirmed that it will submit a bid for the newly launched UK Town of Culture 2028 title. The national programme aims to shine a spotlight on towns across the country, backing ambitious year‑long celebrations of local culture, heritage and creativity. If successful, Witham could secure a significant funding package to deliver a major cultural programme for the town. Shortlisted places are expected to receive development funding to work up detailed plans, with the overall UK Town of Culture 2028 winner set to receive around £3 million , and two further finalist towns expected to receive around £250,000 each. This would represent a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to invest in Witham’s cultural life, people and places. The Council will now begin work on an initial bid that tells Witham’s story, built around a series of themes reflecting the town’s people, places and passions. The proposed programme is expected to include a mix of festivals, community events, arts projects and activities for all ages, with a strong focus on local pride, inclusion and participation. The bid will also look carefully how any funding can leave lasting benefits for the town, from skills and opportunities for young people to stronger community networks and improved public spaces. Residents, community groups and local organisations are being asked to contribute ideas on how potential funding could be invested in the town if the bid is successful. Suggestions could range from new cultural events and trails, to support for local artists and performers, to projects that celebrate Witham’s history, river and green spaces, or create new opportunities for children and young people. Councillor Jack Coleman Chair of Community Committee, said: “Witham has a story worth telling, from our history and river to the many groups, volunteers and creative people who bring the town to life. A Town of Culture bid is a chance to pull those threads together into a clear vision, backed by serious investment. We could unlock substantial funding for new events, projects and spaces that local people have been calling for over many years. We want this to be shaped by residents from the very start, so no idea is too small or too bold. If you care about Witham, this is your invitation to get involved.” Residents can send ideas and comments by email to withamtownofculture@witham.gov.uk . The Council will also be working with local partners, schools, cultural organisations and community groups to develop themes and projects over the coming months. Further updates on the bid and opportunities to get involved will be shared on the Witham Town Council website and social media channels. Previous Next

River Walk WWI Memorial Mural Graffiti < Back Witham Memorial Mural Damaged 8 Apr 2024 River Walk WWI Memorial Mural Graffiti The mural on the River Walk Gauging Station buildings at the weir has been damaged by graffiti twice during the Easter holidays. Witham Town Council's Operations Team have successfully removed some of the graffiti, however there remains significant damage on the rear of the building, which shows a soldier standing in a field of poppies, and so Witham Town Council have approached the original artist to recover the damage. The buildings are painted on all four sides depicting various images of poppies and soldiers to pay tribute to those who fell in the First World War. The mural was created in 2015 by spray can artist Scott Irving of Brave Arts and pupils of New Rickstones Academy. Town council leader Cllr Phil Barlow said 'It's always disappointing that such mindless vandalism takes place anywhere, but this has been a significant piece of artwork on the River Walk for some time. It's also sad to think that someone local would want to deface a remembrance memorial as it costs all of us in undertaking repairs' Once it has been repaired Witham Town Council will look at further ways to protect the mural, including the possibility of extending it's CCTV network to include camera in the area. But the repair and any further steps to protect the artwork will come at a cost. Anyone with any information on the vandalism is urged to contact Essex Police quoting crime reference 42/52960/24 Previous Next