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Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},
Summer is in full swing across the patch this week. There is free stuff for the kids in Waltham Cross, live music at Hertford Castle, and a decision from Government that will reshape who runs your local services by 2028. We also have a Cheshunt takeaway asking, for the second time, to stay open until 1am.
There is a moment of local history this evening too. Broxbourne Council meets tonight, and former Leader of the Council Mark Mills-Bishop is due to be made an Honorary Alderman in recognition of his service to the borough. One to look out for.
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📢 A NOTE TO OUR READERS
From today, we are covering the whole of your new Eastern Hertfordshire properly, not just Broxbourne
From this issue, Broxtown Weekly is reporting in earnest across the full Eastern Hertfordshire area, with regular news from the East Herts towns of Hertford, Ware, Bishop's Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Buntingford sitting alongside Broxbourne, Royston and the rural wards. The reason is the Government's decision on 16 July to merge Broxbourne with East Hertfordshire into a single unitary council from April 2028.
The thinking is simple. If you are going to share one council, you should share one local paper, so we are matching our coverage to the place you will actually live in. Each week you will find real news for your own town, not just a list of events, and a What's On grouped by area so you can find your patch fast. If your town ever feels thin, tell us, because that is exactly the feedback that keeps us honest.
Reply to this email with a story, an event or a gripe from where you live.
🗺️ ACROSS EASTERN HERTFORDSHIRE
Hertfordshire is getting four new councils, and yours pairs Broxbourne with East Herts
On 16 July the Government confirmed Hertfordshire's county, district and borough councils will be replaced by four new unitary authorities from 1 April 2028, subject to parliamentary approval. Our area becomes the eastern authority, combining Broxbourne with East Hertfordshire, so both halves of this newsletter's patch will fall under one council. Broxbourne leader Councillor Corina Gander said reorganisation was imposed by Government and she would have preferred none, but backs the four unitary model as the one closest to local communities, and residents will be consulted before the new authorities stand up.
Every headline satisfies an opinion. Except ours.
Remember when the news was about what happened, not how to feel about it? 1440's Daily Digest is bringing that back. Every morning, they sift through 100+ sources to deliver a concise, unbiased briefing — no pundits, no paywalls, no politics. Just the facts, all in five minutes. For free.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
🚧🏛️ BROXBOURNE
Cheshunt · Hoddesdon · Waltham Cross · Goffs Oak · Cuffley
A Cheshunt chicken shop wants to open until 1am, and it has been refused once already
Favourite Chicken at 100 Turners Hill has again asked Broxbourne Council to extend its hours to 11am until 1am, up from the current midday to 11pm. An almost identical request was refused earlier this year over noise and disturbance to the flats above and nearby homes, but the applicant now argues there is no technical evidence of harm and notes Environmental Health did not object. The council found last time that most nearby takeaways close by 11pm, with only Domino's permitted later, and the new application is under consideration now.
Broxbourne's summer holiday activities are all in one place
The council's 2026 Summer Fun brochure is out, covering events and activities for children, young people and families from July to mid-September across the borough. It is free to download and covers the whole area, so worth a look before the six weeks swallow you whole. Get your copy at the link.
Cheshunt children and care home residents are building friendships across the generations
A Cheshunt charity's GROWTH programme has been pairing local children with residents at care centres and residential sites as part of its intergenerational project, through shared conversations, gardening and activities. The organisers say the visits are building the children's confidence and compassion while forming friendships across the generations. Age UK, B3Living and the Cuffley Day Centre HILS Community Hub are among those taking part.
🏛️ EAST HERTS
Hertford · Ware · Bishop's Stortford · Sawbridgeworth · Buntingford
The school year is over, here is what of the clear-out you can actually recycle
East Herts has published a quick guide to the end-of-term pile that comes home in the school bag. Glitter and paint covered artwork is too contaminated to recycle and goes in the purple non-recyclables bin, notebooks with only a few glued-in worksheets can go in the blue paper bin, and broken hard-plastic lunchboxes need to go to the recycling centre. Anything else, check the council's bins A-Z.
Hertford is celebrating Love Parks Week
Hertford Town Council is marking Love Parks Week, the Keep Britain Tidy campaign running from 24 July to 2 August, across the town's parks and green spaces including Hertford Castle, Hartham Common and the allotments. It is a chance to enjoy the spaces and recognise the volunteers who keep them going. Details are on the town council site.
A cancer charity needs photographers for its August stay in Bishop's Stortford
Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, which supports teenagers and young adults living with and beyond cancer, is running a residential stay in Bishop's Stortford this August and is asking local photographers to help capture it. Volunteers are needed for the outdoor activity day on the morning of Monday 24 August, the fashion show on the evening of Tuesday 25 August, and the graffiti workshop on the morning of Wednesday 26 August. If you can lend a camera and some time, the charity would like to hear from you.
🏛️ ROYSTON AND THE RURAL WARDS
Royston · Ermine · Weston · Sandon
Royston's parks get their week in the spotlight
North Herts Council is marking Love Parks Week and is encouraging residents to get out and enjoy Royston's green spaces. It is the national campaign celebrating parks, the people who look after them and what they bring to the town. Details of what is happening are on the council's news page.
📣 COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
For local groups, clubs and organisations
The 21st Century Social Clubs programme is inviting expressions of interest from clubs in England that want a bigger role in tackling local poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. Selected clubs get a part-time paid community organiser, a £15,000 annual budget, specialist business support and covered expenses for national and regional events. Applications close Friday 31 July 2026, so this is a decision for this week.
Have your say on how charities and councils should work together
The Hertfordshire Civil Society Covenant questionnaire is asking organisations across the county what is working in the relationship between the voluntary and statutory sectors, what could be better, and what should shape future partnerships. It is a short survey and the responses will help shape the county Covenant and future joint working.
Government wants views on the future of National Lottery good causes funding
The Government has opened a twelve-week Call for Evidence on how National Lottery money for good causes is shared out, looking at whether it reaches disadvantaged communities, the balance across arts, heritage, sport and community projects, and how to make applications simpler for grassroots groups. It closes on 23 September.
Applications are open for a new AI incubator at Theobalds Enterprise Centre
Theobalds Enterprise Centre has opened applications for its new Emerging Tec incubator, launching in September for AI-curious founders, freelancers and business owners in Broxbourne. The programme grew out of the centre's monthly AI Coffee & Conversation sessions, where local business owners said they wanted somewhere to experiment without judgement, build confidence, and get real expertise when they need it. Applications are open now for the September cohort.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
Broxbourne
Friday 31 July 2026
🎉 Broxbourne Nursing Home 4th Anniversary
📍 Broxbourne Nursing Home, Broxbourne
⏰ 1:30pm to 4:30pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 BBQ, ice cream, live entertainment and children's activities. All welcome.
Sunday 2 August 2026
🚗 25th Classic Vehicle Day
📍 Waltham Cross town centre
⏰ 10:00am to 5:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Classic vehicles, live music, magic show, food and drink stalls.
Every Sunday
🏃 Waltham Cross junior parkrun (Ages 4 to 14)
📍 Waltham Cross Playing Fields, Station Approach, EN8 7LU
⏰ 9:00am
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Register before your first visit.
From Tuesday 4 August 2026 (Weekly)
🏃 Free Summer Activities (Ages 12 to 16)
📍 Waltham Cross Playing Fields
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Weekly summer sports and activities.
Monday 27 July to Friday 14 August 2026
🏃 HAPpy Camp Holiday Programme (Ages 8 to 12)
📍 John Warner Sports Centre, Hoddesdon
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Free holiday activities for children receiving benefit-related free school meals.
East Herts
Thursday 30 July 2026
🌿 Love Parks Week Celebration
📍 Castle Park, Bishop's Stortford
⏰ 12:00pm to 3:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Dog show, archaeology activities, tennis coaching, face painting, crafts and story time.
Saturday 1 August 2026
☕ August Coffee Morning
📍 St Andrew's Church, Hertford
⏰ 10:30am to 12:30pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Tin tombola, homemade cakes, preserves, cards and crafts. Half of all funds raised will be donated to Parkinson's UK. Donations of tinned goods or homemade items are welcome.
Sunday 2 August 2026
🎵 Rock at the Castle
📍 Hertford Castle
⏰ Gates open 11:30am, event 12:00pm to 7:30pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Live music festival.
Throughout Summer 2026
🌿 Hertford Summer Trail
📍 Across shops and windows in Hertford
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Find 22 hidden knitted ice creams, solve the phrase and enter to win a £30 retailer voucher.
MEME of The Day
HEALTH & WELLBEING TIPS
A little honey can soothe a scratchy throat or a night-time cough for adults and children over one, which is why warm honey and lemon has outlasted every trend.
Never give honey to a baby under 12 months, as it can cause infant botulism, which is rare but serious. Pass this on to any new parents.
Buy local where you can, as Hertfordshire has plenty of small beekeepers. The popular idea that local honey cures hay fever is not backed by good evidence though, so buy it for the taste.
Remember honey is still sugar. It swaps nicely for sugar in tea, porridge or yoghurt, but it carries much the same calories and is just as hard on teeth.
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🎨 TUESDAY MOTIVATION
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
— Margaret Mead
THE WEEK AHEAD ☀ Tuesday - Friday
Bishop Stortford
Tuesday 28 July 29°C 🌡️ 16°C | 🌤️ Mostly cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 05:16 | Sunset 20:44
Wednesday 29 July 32°C 🌡️ 16°C | ☀️ Hot and sunny | ☀️ Sunrise 05:18 | Sunset 20:43
Thursday 30 July 26°C 🌡️ 13°C | ⛅ Partly cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 05:19 | Sunset 20:41
Friday 31 July 24°C 🌡️ 12°C | ☀️ Clear | ☀️ Sunrise 05:21 | Sunset 20:39
Saturday 1 August 25°C 🌡️ 12°C | ☀️ Clear | ☀️ Sunrise 05:23 | Sunset 20:37
Source: forecast fetched 28 July 2026. Sunrise and sunset times are approximate.
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Broxtown Weekly covers Broxbourne, East Herts, Royston and Cuffley, the areas that become Eastern Hertfordshire Council on 1 April 2028.
Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!
Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya
P.S. Want to sponsor our newsletter? Email us at [email protected]
Social clubs can apply for a paid organiser and funding, but the deadline is this Friday