Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},

Hello and happy Tuesday.

Christmas is getting close and the streets are busy even in the early darkness. The school run is a mess again, roadworks at Theobalds have traffic crawling. The rain has barely stopped all week and forecasts suggest more of the same, with a real chance it could flip to snow. We are watching the Met Office for any sign of a White Christmas in Broxbourne. Even with the weather, the build up has been lively, from bright street lights to school carol festivals across Waltham Cross.

Here are the stories you need today.

In today’s issue:
• Community Champion Award: We Have a Winner
• Waltham Cross Town Centre Reopens After Major Regeneration
• Borough of Broxbourne Awards 2026 Nominations Now Open
• Council Launches Consultations on Activities and Local Plan
➕ More local updates you should not miss.

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After a fantastic round of voting, we’re finally ready to reveal this year’s Community Champion Award winners. The nominees were incredibly strong, each one has made Broxbourne better through their dedication, passion and service. Before announcing the results, here’s a quick reminder of the outstanding individuals recognised this year.

Andy is the backbone of Cedars Park, leading the Men’s Shed, the apiary, hedgehog rescue, gardening teams and more. As Chair of Friends of Cedars Park, he’s the person residents turn to when anything needs doing. His work rebuilds confidence, supports wildlife and keeps the park thriving every day.

Priya has grown the Indian Cheshunt Community Group into a vibrant network of 200+ members. She leads major cultural events, children’s activities, fitness sessions and charity work, while opening doors for young entrepreneurs. Her leadership has strengthened cohesion and representation across Cheshunt.

Lucy plays a key role in Love Cheshunt, securing a lifesaving defibrillator, fundraising for disadvantaged families, and organising free community activities. Through her local business and hands-on approach, she delivers practical support that improves safety, opportunity and community spirit.

Emeka built the Broxtown newsletter into one of the borough’s most trusted local platforms, spotlighting businesses, sharing local achievements and strengthening community connection. Through consistent storytelling and presence at local events, he’s turned local news into a genuine community service.

After two weeks of voting and a last minute tie that briefly threw everything into chaos, the final surge of votes broke it. A clear winner emerged.

It is my pleasure to announce this year’s Broxtown Community Champion Award goes to… 🥁🥁

Congratulations Andy!

This category was never truly close at the beginning, but Janet Green made a late push. However, her late push was fighting against the tide from Andy’s friends and well-wishers. Andy Massey held the top spot from the start and finished with a clear margin.

Winner: Andy Massey. Congratulations, Andy.

Previously Announced Winners
• Community Group of the Year: Cheshunt Indian Community
• Environment Impact Award: Bob Ivison

Congratulations to all our winners. Each of you will receive a certificate and a small token of appreciation from the community and the Broxtown team.

Thank you to everyone who nominated and voted. You showed what community spirit looks like. We will schedule individual presentations for each winner and share the dates soon.

More details will be shared in an editorial this week.

Waltham Cross town centre has reopened to the public following an extensive 14-month regeneration project backed by government funding. The scheme, designed with input from local residents, aims to transform the area into a better place to live, work and visit.

The transformation includes new landscaped areas with sustainable drainage features, pocket parks providing social spaces for visitors, bicycle stands, improved lighting and new street furniture. Access improvements include new pedestrian crossings at Monarchs Way and a shared cycle path. The town centre now operates with one-way vehicle access running from Eleanor Cross Road through the High Street to Monarchs Way between 7pm and 7am, with 24-hour access from Park Lane to Monarchs Way except on market days.

A standout feature is a 200 square metre living green wall featuring 6,500 plants, designed to extract 460kg of CO2 annually and improve local air quality. The wider renaissance programme has also delivered upgrades to Waltham Cross Playing Fields, including a refurbished Sports Pavilion, and improvements to the Community Skills Hub to better support local businesses and career opportunities.

An official opening event is planned for the New Year, with details to be announced on the council's website and social media.

Learn more

Broxbourne Council has announced that nominations for the Borough of Broxbourne Awards 2026 are now open, inviting residents to recognise the achievements of individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the local community.

The annual awards celebrate those who have gone above and beyond to help others, shining a spotlight on the often unsung heroes working quietly behind the scenes across the borough. Whether through voluntary work, community support, charitable endeavours or exceptional acts of kindness, the awards provide an opportunity to honour those making a real difference to local life.

The Mayor of Broxbourne, Councillor Patsy Spears, encouraged residents to get involved, describing the awards as a great chance to celebrate those who consistently go the extra mile. She highlighted the importance of recognising people and community groups who quietly do so much for the borough, urging everyone to nominate the unsung heroes they know.

Nominations will remain open until Saturday 31 January 2026, giving residents plenty of time to put forward deserving candidates. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday 5 March 2026, when winners will be celebrated at a special event. Residents can submit their nominations online through the council's dedicated awards page.

Learn more

Broxbourne Council is seeking residents' views through two ongoing consultations that will help shape services and future development across the borough.

Active Herts, which provides health and fitness activities for residents, is asking participants to share feedback on its services. The short survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and asks respondents to rate different aspects of the activities provided. The feedback will help identify areas for improvement and ensure the service continues to meet community needs. The consultation remains open until 31 December 2025.

Meanwhile, the council has launched a Call for Sites as part of developing a new Local Plan for the borough. Following the council's decision in September 2025 to progress with a fresh Local Plan, landowners and others with an interest in specific areas of land are invited to propose sites for potential inclusion. All submitted sites will be assessed for suitability, availability and deliverability before any decisions are made regarding allocation. Importantly, promoting a site through this process does not guarantee allocation or planning permission. The Call for Sites consultation closes on 7 January 2026.

Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in both consultations to help shape Broxbourne's future.

Active Herts feedback | Call for Sites

Cheshunt’s festive season is officially underway as residents flock to take photos with the town’s beloved Santa frame, proudly installed by the Love Cheshunt team. Lucy and Helen from the team were among the first to pose for a picture, helping to showcase one of this year’s most charming additions to the town centre.

The Santa frame has quickly become a community favourite, with families stopping by throughout the week to capture memories. More visitors are expected in the coming days weather permitting as the frame continues to bring festive cheer and create a shared sense of celebration.

This seasonal feature has been made possible through the support of Love Cheshunt and a generous group of local businesses who sponsored the installation. Sponsors include:

Dobsons • LMA Studios • Christopher Stokes Estate Agency • Shepherds Estate Agent • by.a.maya Customised Unique • Cleous Bites • rpfcontractors • crystalcheshunt • Tinytoons Pre-School Nursery Cheshunt • Foresters Den Nursery • Nicola J. Barnett • Divas Hair Cheshunt • JM Installations

Residents who have taken photos with the Santa frame are encouraged to share them with the Love Cheshunt team, helping to spread joy and showcase the community spirit that continues to shine throughout the festive season.

📅 Date: Today
🕓 Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
📍 Location: Waltham Cross Library
💷 Cost: Free
📝 Description:
Join Broxtown’s festive LEGO Club for a magical hour of Christmas-themed building! Kids can create Santas, snowmen, reindeers, Christmas trees and more. No booking required—just drop in and build!
🔗 More Info: N/A

📅 Date: Select dates in December
🕑 Time: 45-minute online sessions
📍 Location: Online (Zoom)
💷 Cost: Free
📝 Description:
A few spaces remain for Michael Niles’ popular digital marketing surgeries! Perfect for businesses wanting to boost their online presence or learn the fundamentals of digital strategy.
🔗 Book Here: https://ow.ly/r9LN50Xmjoo

📅 Date: Thursday 22 January
🕤 Time: 9:30am – 1:00pm
📍 Venue: The Spotlight Theatre, High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BE
💷 Cost: Free (Broxbourne-based businesses only)
📝 Description:
A wellbeing-focused workshop from Calmer designed to help managers reduce stress, identify burnout symptoms, and build mentally healthier workplaces.
🔗 Book Here: https://ow.ly/67Pu50X65EW

📅 Date: 12th December 2025
🕗 Time: Evening show
📍 Venue: The Spotlight, Hoddesdon
💷 Cost: Ticketed
📝 Description:
The ultimate festive night out! Dance to the biggest hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s mixed with Christmas classics. Expect dazzling lights, confetti bursts, fake snowfall, and a packed dancefloor. Perfect for groups, couples, and festive party lovers. Tickets are selling fast—don’t wait!
🔗 Book Tickets: https://www.thespotlightvenue.com/.../christmas-for.../415

Date: Thursday 11 December 2025
Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Broxbournebury Mansion, White Stubbs Lane, EN10 7PY
Tickets: £15 per person

A festive evening of good food and sharp competition. Your ticket includes a Christmas food platter, an interactive quiz and a prize for the winning team.

Book your spot:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01992 466666

£1,950,000 | 5 Bed Detached | 3,215 sq ft | Freehold

This is one of Goffs Oak’s standout homes, set within an exclusive gated development and finished to a luxury standard throughout. You get five bedrooms, four bathrooms, four reception rooms and an impressive open plan kitchen and orangery looking out onto landscaped wraparound gardens. Underfloor heating runs through the entire house and the detached double garage offers clear potential for an annex. Sitting on a third of an acre, with excellent links to BR, A10, M25 and top schools, this is a rare turnkey property in a prime EN7 location. A must-see.

Tuesday

14°C 🌡 9°C | 🌧 Heavy rain Sunny and a fresh breeze | ☀ Sunrise 07:54 Sunset 15:50

Wednesday

13°C 🌡 5°C | ☀ Sunny and a moderate breeze | ☀ Sunrise 07:55 Sunset 15:50

Thursday

12°C 🌡 11°C | ☁ Light cloud and a moderate breeze | ☀ Sunrise 07:56 Sunset 15:50

Friday

11°C 🌡 6°C | 🌧 Light rain and a gentle breeze | ☀ Sunrise 07:57 Sunset 15:50

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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!

Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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