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Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},
The weekend flies by before you know it. I hope you had a good one, and made the most of that gorgeous autumn sunshine.
On Sunday, Goffs Oak and Cuffley residents were out holding the green line, placards up. It was long awaited and the organisers and resident who joined in enjoyed the day. The borough needs both new homes and the infrastructure to support them, and the jury is still out on how to get the balance right.
Last week the council opened two new grant schemes, and plenty of small businesses and charities are now racing to get their applications in. Details are below.
And the pumpkins are popping out. Local shops and cafés are decorating their windows for Halloween, so let's find the best. Send us the names of your favourite Halloween windows by Sunday 25 October and we will share the top 5 before Halloween weekend. Go and have a look around, then email us at [email protected].
💌 Love this newsletter? Share it with a friend or neighbour and buy me a coffee if you haven't already 😉 Thanks a million to those who are making this gifting regular. We need it monthly otherwise we may have to make the difficult decision.
Real conversations, shared over a local table
🍽️ Broxtown Supper Club: dinner with your neighbours on Monday 19 October
You read about Broxbourne every Tuesday. On Monday 19 October you can sit down and talk about it, over dinner with the Broxtown team and a small table of local residents.
Expect an open conversation about our community, AI, ambition and everything in between, and a chance to ask the editor anything. It is the first event of its kind in the borough, and places are limited.
📍 Fishy Delishy, College Road, Cheshunt EN8 9NU
🗓️ Monday 19 October 2026
⏰ 6:30pm to 8:30pm
💷 Paid ticket
🏛️ HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
The crews who answer your 999 calls are getting one of the UK's best training centres, motorway included
Hertfordshire's firefighters will soon practise on a full-scale, six-lane replica motorway, complete with gantry, hard shoulders and lighting, so the first time they cut someone out of a multi-car pile-up is not the real thing. Work has started on rebuilding the Longfield Fire and Rescue Training Centre in Stevenage, with a five-storey live fire building that recreates high-rises, flats, basements and garages, plus new decontamination areas to protect crews from harmful smoke contaminants. It opens in October 2027, and if you have ever thought about joining the service, now is a good time to look.
Gritters are on standby, and your residents' group can claim 400kg of free salt
The county's winter service is now live, with crews watching forecasts around the clock and ready to treat almost 1,500 miles of priority roads, plus more than 1,400 salt bins you can use on your own street. Schools, parish councils and residents' groups can apply for up to 400kg of free salt through the Winter Self-Help Scheme, delivered this autumn before the cold arrives. Applications close on Saturday 31 October 2026, so if your road always ices over, get your residents' association to apply online or email [email protected].
A half-term pumpkin hunt in Cheshunt for £2.40, plus two more close to home
The cheapest Halloween day out on our doorstep is back: Cedars Nature Centre's Pumpkin Trail runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, with carved pumpkins hidden around the centre, a sweet treat for finding them all, and animal talks and meet and greets every 45 minutes. It costs £2.40 per person for all-day entry, under 2s go free, and you do not need to book, just turn up. If you want more, Love Cheshunt has a free Halloween Trail through the town's shops all half term with free pumpkin carving on Saturday 31 October, Love Waltham Cross is running pumpkin carving too, and Foxholes Farm in Hertford has Spooky Farm Fun.
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COMMUNITY UPDATES
Google's data centre money is now on offer to local businesses and charities, up to £15,000 each
Money from the Google data centre in Waltham Cross is coming back into the borough as two new grant schemes, paid for through the developer's Section 106 agreement. Businesses and social enterprises can apply for £5,000 to £15,000 through Ambition Broxbourne for things like shopfront upgrades, new machinery or digital and green projects, while voluntary groups can bid for £2,000 to £15,000 for sport, environment, arts and heritage projects (neither scheme covers rent, rates or other running costs). When we shared this on our socials, lots of you got in touch, so here is the key date: both schemes close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and we wish everyone applying the very best of luck.
5,000 hand-knitted poppies are coming to Cheshunt Old Pond, and there is still time to add yours
Around 5,000 knitted and crocheted poppies, made by local knitting groups, U3A members and individual residents, will turn Cheshunt Old Pond into a remembrance display from Thursday 22 October to Thursday 12 November. The project is led by the Cheshunt & District Royal British Legion Club, and sits alongside Remembrance Sunday parades in Cheshunt, Goffs Oak and Hoddesdon on Sunday 8 November, which drew around 6,700 people last year. If you can knit or crochet, drop your poppies at the Cheshunt & District British Legion Club, 37 Crossbrook Street, Cheshunt, EN8 8LR.
Update: the campaign to keep Cheshunt Free Church in community hands steps up
Local campaigners hoping to stop the private sale of Cheshunt Free Church say they have asked Broxbourne Council to list the building as an Asset of Community Value, a status that can give community groups time to put together a bid. The campaign says it now has nearly 100 local supporters and is working towards a key date of Friday 23 October, while the United Reformed Church has said the sale followed due process, including a vote by the congregation. We will keep you updated as the story develops.
Goffs Oak and Cuffley residents march to protect their green belt
Residents took to the streets of Goffs Oak on Sunday in a peaceful march against development plans that organisers say would destroy local green belt and farmland and change the face of the neighbourhood. Organisers John Gillet and Hayley Gilder led the march, with John speaking to the crowd about what residents stand to lose, and many more showed their support online. The campaign says this is only the start, and if you want your view on the plans to count, the most effective step is a formal comment on the planning application itself.
🤖 See what AI can take off your plate, so you can focus on the work that needs you
Most small businesses do not need more technology. They need fewer missed calls, fewer unanswered messages and fewer evenings lost to admin. On Tuesday 3 November, the Google Data Centre Community AI Fellowship is running a free, practical session in Cheshunt showing local business owners and charities exactly how AI can handle the repetitive work, so people can spend their time on the decisions that need their judgement.
The case study is hospitality. You will see a live demonstration of how a restaurant can:
catch booking enquiries that come in during a busy service
answer guest questions quickly and consistently
cut no-shows with automatic reminders
win back past customers and fill quieter nights
reply to online reviews while staff stay in control
The ideas apply well beyond restaurants. If you run a shop, a salon, a café, a pub or a charity, the same tools can help with bookings, enquiries and follow-ups. No technical knowledge needed.
📍 Fishy Delishy, College Road, Cheshunt EN8 9NU 🗓️ Tuesday 3 November 2026 ⏰ 11am to 2pm 🎟️ Free entry
Supported by the Google Data Centre Community AI Fellowship and the Watson Institute.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
🏡 Local & in-person
Dance Jam Academy presents Art in Motion
📍 The Spotlight, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Sunday 11 October 2026
⏰ See booking
🎟️ See booking
👉 Details / Book
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch 2026
📍 The Spotlight, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Thursday 15 October 2026
⏰ See booking
🎟️ See booking
👉 Details / Book
Broxtown Supper Club: Personal Brand, AI and Good Conversation
📍 Fishy Delishy, College Road, Cheshunt EN8 9NU
🗓️ Monday 19 October 2026
⏰ 6:30pm to 8:30pm
💷 Paid ticket
👉 Book your seat
Poppy Display at Cheshunt Old Pond
📍 Cheshunt Old Pond, Cheshunt
🗓️ Thursday 22 October to Thursday 12 November 2026
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Learn more
Pumpkin Trail and Animal Meet and Greets
📍 Cedars Nature Centre, Cheshunt
🗓️ Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026
⏰ All-day entry, animal talks every 45 minutes
💷 £2.40 per person, under 2s free, no need to book
Love Cheshunt Halloween Trail
📍 Businesses across Cheshunt town centre
🗓️ Saturday 24 October to Saturday 31 October 2026
🎟️ Free entry, find all 20 Halloween posters and win a trick or treat
Free Pumpkin Carving
📍 LMA Studios, Cheshunt
🗓️ Saturday 31 October 2026
⏰ 10:00am to 2:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
How AI Can Help Your Business Get More Customers
📍 Fishy Delishy, College Road, Cheshunt EN8 9NU
🗓️ Tuesday 3 November 2026
⏰ 11:00am to 2:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Learn more
Remembrance Sunday Parades
📍 Cheshunt, Goffs Oak and Hoddesdon
🗓️ Sunday 8 November 2026
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Learn more
Armistice Day Service
📍 Cedars Park, Cheshunt
🗓️ Wednesday 11 November 2026
⏰ 10:30am
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Learn more
Free Holdbrook Multi-Sports Sessions, ages 11 to 18
📍 Holdbrook, Waltham Cross
🗓️ Every Monday evening
⏰ See booking
🎟️ Free
👉 Details / Book
Free Calisthenics Sessions
📍 Waltham Cross Playing Fields, Waltham Cross
🗓️ Every Wednesday
⏰ See booking
🎟️ Free
👉 Details / Book
💼 Business & enterprise
Nova HQ: The Creative Room Launch Event, Coffee and Networking
📍 Nova HQ
🗓️ Wednesday 7 October 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Ambition Broxbourne: Social Media and Digital Marketing Surgery
📍 Ambition Broxbourne
🗓️ Thursday 8 October 2026
⏰ Slots from 9:30am to 3:00pm
🎟️ Free
👉 Book here
Broxbourne Council: Free Energy Saving Workshop
📍 Broxbourne
🗓️ Thursday 8 October 2026
🎟️ Free
👉 Book here
Community Alliance: From Project Idea to Funded Reality
📍 Broxbourne
🗓️ Thursday 8 October 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Community Alliance: Building a Strong Volunteer Ecosystem
📍 Broxbourne
🗓️ Thursday 15 October 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Adaptive Business Connect: Cheshunt and Broxbourne
📍 Cheshunt and Broxbourne
🗓️ Thursday 15 October 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
British Business Bank: East of England Investment Fund
📍 Online
🗓️ Tuesday 20 October 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Wenta: Brand Strategy and Positioning
📍 Wenta
🗓️ Wednesday 21 October 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Wenta: Content Marketing Skills Webinar
📍 Online
🗓️ Thursday 29 October 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Wenta: Autumn Budget 2026, What Does It Mean for Your Small Business?
📍 Online
🗓️ Sunday 1 November 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Made Smarter: Innovative Manufacturing Expo 2026
📍 See booking
🗓️ Tuesday 3 November 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Townstead AI: How AI Can Help Your Restaurant Get More Customers
📍 Fishy Delishy, College Road, Cheshunt EN8 9NU
🗓️ Tuesday 3 November 2026
⏰ 11:00am to 2:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Book here
Step2Skills: CV Writing Essentials to Stand Out to Employers
📍 Online
🗓️ Tuesday 3 November 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Step2Skills: Interview Techniques That Work
📍 Online
🗓️ Tuesday 3 November 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
Herts Growth Hub: Hertfordshire Business Finance Event, Every Route to Growth
📍 Hertfordshire
🗓️ Thursday 5 November 2026
🎟️ See booking
👉 Book here
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HEALTH & WELLBEING TIPS
COVID is rising again this autumn, five simple ways to look after yourself and others
COVID cases are creeping up in England: hospital test positivity rose from 5.9% to 7.0% in the UKHSA report of 24 September, and hospital admissions rose too. Symptoms can look like a cold or flu, including fever, a new continuous cough, tiredness, sore throat, headache, aches, or loss of taste or smell.
Feel unwell? Stay home if you have a temperature or are not well enough for work, school or your normal day.
Protect those at higher risk. Avoid visiting older people, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system while you are ill.
Rest and treat symptoms with fluids, rest, and paracetamol or ibuprofen if suitable. A teaspoon of honey can ease a cough (not for babies under one).
Testing positive? Adults should try to stay home for five days, and avoid clinically vulnerable people for ten.
Know when to get help. Call NHS 111 if symptoms get worse or you are at higher risk. Call 999 for chest pain, severe breathlessness, coughing up blood, collapse, seizures or confusion.
Sponsored by Our Resident Doctor.
🎨 TUESDAY MOTIVATION
We will not wait for things to happen; we will make them happen.
— Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.
— Richard Feynman
BROXBOURNE WEATHER ☀ 🌦
Weather ☀ Tuesday - Sunday
Tuesday 6 October
🌡️ 19°C | Low 13°C | 🌦️ Light drizzle, cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 07:09 | Sunset 18:26
Wednesday 7 October
🌡️ 14°C | Low 11°C | 🌦️ Light drizzle, cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 07:10 | Sunset 18:24
Thursday 8 October
🌡️ 14°C | Low 8°C | ☁️ Overcast, dry | ☀️ Sunrise 07:12 | Sunset 18:22
Friday 9 October
🌡️ 16°C | Low 8°C | 🌦️ Light drizzle, cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 07:14 | Sunset 18:19
Saturday 10 October
🌡️ 16°C | Low 10°C | 🌦️ Light drizzle, cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 07:15 | Sunset 18:17
Sunday 11 October
🌡️ 13°C | Low 8°C | 🌦️ Scattered showers | ☀️ Sunrise 07:17 | Sunset 18:15
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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]