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Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},
Hoddesdon turned up properly on Saturday.
The town centre was packed for the Spring Fayre, crowds around the performers, local businesses trading from stalls, kids everywhere, and the kind of weather that makes everything feel like summer has started early. This is what a town centre should feel like when it's working.
Credit to Love Hoddesdon and the Broxbourne Borough town centre team for pulling it together. These events don't just happen, they're built.
And this is only the start. If you thought Hoddesdon was lively, wait until St George's Day at Grundy Park in Cheshunt coming this Saturday. That's the next test of how big this can get. Be there.
I have all the stories you should be aware of starting the new week, from county council stories to local ones, and especially a packed events line-up this week starting tomorrow.
One personal note before you dive in. Broxtown runs on community support, and producing this newsletter each week takes real time and effort. If this is valuable to you, please consider buying me a coffee. It is how I keep local journalism like this alive. A huge thank you to those of you who give every month without fail. You know who you are, and it means everything. If you have not yet and would like to, use the link is below. I appreciate every contribution, big or small. Stay blessed.
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🏛️ HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Nearly 90% of Hertfordshire children got their first-choice primary school. Here's what to do if yours didn't
Hertfordshire County Council has allocated school places to 15,804 children for 2026, with 87.6% of the 13,224 reception applicants awarded their top-ranked primary school and over 97% offered one of their preferred schools. Parents who did not receive their first choice are automatically placed on a continuing interest list for any higher-ranked schools on their application. You must accept your offered place by 23 April 2026, and the deadline to appeal is 4pm on 15 May 2026. Find full allocation details and next steps at hertfordshire.gov.uk/primaryoptions.
Shoplifting in Hertfordshire is down 17%. Police say a new fast-track court approach is behind the drop
Hertfordshire Constabulary has recorded a 17% reduction in reported shop theft over the six months since October 2025, with 2,621 incidents logged compared to the same period the previous year. Chief Constable Andy Prophet told Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards the fall is down to targeted work with retailers, a focus on prolific offenders, and a new streamlined court summons process agreed with the Crown Prosecution Service from January 2026. The new approach requires shoplifters with compelling evidence against them to go straight to court, cutting out lengthy police investigation processes.
Hertfordshire Constabulary received 21,470 reports of anti-social behaviour between March 2025 and the end of March 2026, an average of 54 a day, according to Chief Constable Andy Prophet. The force responded with 82 community protection notices, 312 warnings, 14 criminal behaviour orders, and 16 premises closures during the period. A new county-wide ASB action plan has been published, committing to visible policing in hotspot locations, targeted intervention, and closer victim support.
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Hertfordshire County Council's old headquarters could fetch £50m, but there's a debate about whether to sell all of it
Hertfordshire County Council has received bids for its former County Hall site in Hertford, a 25.58-acre site valued at £50 million that the council vacated when it moved to Stevenage in 2023. A cabinet decision on how to proceed is expected in summer 2026 after bids are analysed. The sale has prompted debate among councillors about whether part of the site (including the council chamber) should be retained ahead of local government reorganisation, which could see Hertfordshire restructured into up to four unitary authorities by 2028.
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COMMUNITY UPDATES
Broxbourne MP Lewis Cocking takes cost of living fight to the Prime Minister
Broxbourne MP Lewis Cocking put the government on the spot at Prime Minister's Questions, challenging Keir Starmer directly on the cost of living, taxation, and benefits for working people. Cocking's argument: residents in Broxbourne feel they are paying more in taxes while seeing less in return, with rises going towards benefits rather than services they use. The Prime Minister's response left Cocking unsatisfied, telling constituents: "People in Broxbourne feel like they're paying more and getting less — and the Prime Minister can't even give me a proper answer."
Hertfordshire County Council is inviting parents, carers, and residents to give feedback on its proposed SEND Provision Plan at one of two online sessions. The first session is Monday 27 April, 11.30am–1pm and the second is Thursday 4 June, 6pm–7.30pm. Both sessions include a short presentation followed by open discussion, and you can find out more about the plan before registering.
Lowewood Museum in Hoddesdon is free, open Fridays and Saturdays, and worth your time
Lowewood Museum, a short walk from Hoddesdon town centre, tells the story of the Borough of Broxbourne through its galleries and exhibitions, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The museum has a cafe serving drinks and snacks, a gift shop, and a peaceful garden accessible all year round. Admission is free, and the museum is open every Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm.
Former Broxbourne council leader to speak about 20 years of public service this Wednesday
Cllr Mark Mills-Bishop, a two-time leader of Broxbourne Borough Council and former county councillor, is giving a talk about his two decades in community leadership to the Young at Heart group. The event takes place this Wednesday 22 April, 1.45pm–3pm at Rosedale Community Church, Andrews Lane, Cheshunt. Everyone is welcome to attend and hear the stories from one of the borough's most recognised public figures.
Landlord and Letting Agent Forum: meet the Simple Lets team on Tuesday 28 April
Broxbourne Borough Council is hosting a landlord and letting agent forum on Tuesday 28 April from 5.30pm at the Council Chamber, Bishops' College, Churchgate, Cheshunt EN8 9XG. The session is a chance to meet the Simple Lets team, network with other landlords and agents, and learn more about the scheme. Booking is required.
The Waltham Cross underpass murals are done. My daughter saw them and said something I won't forget
I drove past the Waltham Cross underpass close to Waltham Cross Station at the weekend and my daughter loved it. Her exact words: "I know graffiti is a bad thing, but this one is great." I just loved that innocence. I had to explain that this was intentional commissioned art, not graffiti and that some good people in this borough made it happen. At the time of publishing we are not clear on who commissioned them and we would like to appreciate their work publicly. Similar mural was completed last year by street art collective MurWalls and local artists Customised Unique, brought in by Broxbourne Borough Council working with Hertfordshire County Council, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Three tunnels, three themes: Waltham Cross local history, the 2012 London Olympics legacy (Hertfordshire's only Olympic venue), and the town's newly upgraded park and sports spaces. We are loveing the redevelopment of Waltham Cross.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
🗓️ CHEXS SEND Support Session
📍 Cheshunt Library, Cheshunt
🗓️ Tuesday 21 April 2026
⏰ 12:00pm – 1:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — booking recommended
👉 Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london--92111/chexs/
🎤 Cllr Mark Mills-Bishop: Twenty Years (Young at Heart talk)
📍 Rosedale Community Church, Andrews Lane, Cheshunt
🗓️ Wednesday 22 April 2026
⏰ 1:45pm – 3:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — all welcome
👩 Women in AI and Data
📍 Theobalds Enterprise Centre, Cheshunt
🗓️ Thursday 23 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-ai-and-data-tickets-1985500101251
🎉 St George's Family Fun Day
📍 Grundy Park, Cheshunt EN8 9AJ
🗓️ Saturday 25 April 2026
⏰ 12:00pm – 5:00pm
🎟️ Free entry (some activities and refreshments may be charged)
👉 Contact: [email protected]
🏛️ SEND Provision Plan online consultation — Session 1
📍 Online
🗓️ Monday 27 April 2026
⏰ 11:30am – 1:00pm
🎟️ Free — registration required
👉 Register: https://buff.ly/7konMSv
💼 Landlord and Letting Agent Forum — Simple Lets scheme
📍 Council Chamber, Bishops' College, Churchgate, Cheshunt EN8 9XG
🗓️ Tuesday 28 April 2026
⏰ 5:30pm
🎟️ Free — booking required
👉 Book now: https://ow.ly/6eqO50YGTFw
💼 Working Well: Preventing Burnout (Entrepreneurs & Leaders)
📍 Online
🗓️ Thursday 30 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 1:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/working-well-preventing-burnout-in-the-workplace-for-managers-tickets-1984633929508
📚 Saturday Stories: Road Safety
📍 Hoddesdon Library, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Saturday 2 May 2026
⏰ 11:00am – 11:30am
🎟️ Free entry — just turn up
🏃 Junior parkrun launch — Waltham Cross
📍 Waltham Cross Playing Fields, Station Approach, Waltham Cross EN8 7LU
🗓️ Sunday 3 May 2026 (then every Sunday)
⏰ 9:00am
🎟️ Free — registration required
👉 Register: https://bit.ly/WXjuniorparkrunbookhere
💼 Cheshunt Business Networking Meeting
📍 Christopher Stokes Estate Agency, 10 Newnham Parade, Cheshunt EN8 9NU
🗓️ Wednesday 13 May 2026
⏰ 5:30pm – 7:00pm
💷 Free (members) | £5 (non-members)
👉 Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cheshunt-business-networking-meeting-tickets-1987313466074
💼 Community Alliance: Using Tech to Budget, Write and Report Smarter
📍 Nigel Copping Community Building, Stanstead Abbotts
🗓️ Wednesday 21 May 2026
⏰ 1:30pm – 4:30pm
🎟️ Free for members (free membership available)
👉 Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-plans-to-proposals-crafting-strong-competitive-funding-applications-tickets-1984291337807
🎞️ Free Outdoor Cinema — Waltham Cross
📍 Queen Eleanor Square, Waltham Cross
🗓️ Tuesday 26 May 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 5:00pm
🎬 11:00am — Zootropolis 2
🎬 1:00pm — The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
🎬 3:00pm — Wicked: For Good (Sing-Along)
🎟️ Free entry — bring chairs and blankets
🏛️ SEND Provision Plan online consultation — Session 2
📍 Online
🗓️ Thursday 4 June 2026
⏰ 6:00pm – 7:30pm
🎟️ Free — registration required
👉 Register: https://buff.ly/td7jFQW
Picture of The Week
Hoddesdon Spring Fayre
HEALTH & WELLBEING TIPS
If it does not look like real food, stop pretending it is food.
Build every meal around protein, fibre and colour, that means lean protein, greens and something bright on the plate.
Drink water before you snack, half the time you are just dehydrated.
Eat slowly, if you cannot remember tasting it, you probably did not need it.
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🎨 TUESDAY MOTIVATION
Most people Neve run far enough on their first wind to fined out they’ve got a second.
- William James
The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.
- Carl Jung
Courtesy of Ray Lowe
Weather ☀ Monday - Friday
HODDESDON
Monday 20 April 12°C 🌡️ 4°C | ⛅ Sunny intervals, chance of showers from 5pm | ☀️ Sunrise 05:54 | Sunset 20:06
Tuesday 21 April 14°C 🌡️ 5°C | ⛅ Sunny intervals | ☀️ Sunrise 05:52 | Sunset 20:08
Wednesday 22 April 16°C 🌡️ 5°C | ☀️ Sunny | ☀️ Sunrise 05:50 | Sunset 20:09
Thursday 23 April 18°C 🌡️ 4°C | ☀️ Sunny | ☀️ Sunrise 05:48 | Sunset 20:11
Friday 24 April 17°C 🌡️ 4°C | ☀️ Sunny | ☀️ Sunrise 05:46 | Sunset 20:13
Source: Met Office, updated 7:57am Sunday 19 April 2026
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Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya
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