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Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},
The clocks went forward and the temperature went back. Spring teased us then changed its mind. And it's not just the heating bills. Food inflation could more than double to 8% by summer if the Iran conflict drags on.
Meanwhile, the Government's consultation on Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire has closed. A decision is expected this summer. The biggest shake-up to local councils in decades starts now.
B&M opened on Friday and Broxbourne showed up. Traffic all over Waltham Cross. Well done you. Now let's repeat that energy for every new local business.
Big edition today. MP Lewis on the radio about 21,000 new homes at Crews Hill. Students at a nursing home. A local restaurant collecting gold awards.
Coming tomorrow: She was kicked out of school, diagnosed too late, and told she wouldn't amount to much. Then she built one of Broxbourne's most important charities. Tomorrow's Broxtown editorial tells the story of Leigh Cole and HABS Strength in Mind. You don't want to miss this one.
If you value this local reporting, you can support the newsletter by buying me a coffee below. It helps cover the tools that make this possible.
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Real conversations, shared over a local table
Bringing people together over good food
Hertstown Dinners are small, curated gatherings of six people, hosted in local restaurants and built around a clear theme. Each dinner brings thoughtful locals together for focused conversation, not networking or pitches. Apply to join the next themed Hertstown Dinner.
Open Application Theme: The Rising Cost of Food
This is not a networking event and there are no talks or sales pitches. Just good food, considered discussion, and people who care about where they live. Spaces are limited and allocated by application to keep the experience intentional.
Future dinners will be announced via this newsletter.
🏛️ HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
You'll need a free ePass to use your local recycling centre from tomorrow
Hertfordshire County Council is introducing a free ePass for all recycling centres across the county, with registration opening on 1 April 2026. The pass is designed to give Hertfordshire residents priority access, with no app or booking required. Registration is quick and one-time only, and staff will be on hand to help anyone who needs support.
A poetry show for kids is touring Herts libraries this Easter, and Hoddesdon is on the list
"A Noise Annoys" is a poetry show for families hitting libraries across Hertfordshire during the Easter holidays, taking audiences on a journey through the sounds of language with rhymes, songs, surprises and plenty of audience interaction. The show is best suited to families with children aged six and over. Performances are taking place at Ware, Hitchin, North Watford, St Albans, Hoddesdon and Bishop's Stortford libraries.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 21 April. Here's how to make sure you're ready for 7 May
Local elections are taking place on 7 May 2026, and you can vote in person, by post or by proxy. If you want a postal vote, your application must be in by 5pm on 21 April. Proxy vote applications close at 5pm on 28 April.
Your grocery bill could jump by £150 this year if the Iran war keeps pushing energy prices up
UK households face food inflation hitting 8% by June if disruption from the Iran conflict triggers a severe energy price shock, according to the Institute of Grocery Distribution. Food prices are already 38% higher than pre-Covid levels, and IGD's worst-case modelling shows inflation could more than double from its current 3.6% rate within months. Even the best-case scenario still sees food inflation averaging 3.8% for 2026, meaning there is no relief coming soon.
The £1 fix that could have saved 216,000 drivers from failing their MOT last year
More than 216,000 vehicles failed their MOT in 2025 because of faulty washer jets, a component that costs as little as £1 to replace. DVSA rules are clear: washers must deliver enough fluid for wipers to clear the windscreen effectively, and failure means your car is off the road. Check your washer jets and windscreen for chips before your next MOT appointment — anything larger than 1cm in the driver's line of sight is an automatic fail.
Explore Peru with purpose
See Peru through the eyes of the women who call it home on Intrepid’s brand-new Women’s Expedition.
With an expert local leader out front and a small group of like-minded women by your side, this trip connects you with the local communities you visit ,giving you a unique insight into Peru’s culture and traditions.
With an expert local leader out front and a small group of like-minded travellers by your side, this trip gives you a unique insight into Peru’s culture and traditions.
Part of Intrepid’s Women’s expedition range, this eight-day adventure has been thoughtfully designed to support local women in tourism while delivering immersive experiences specifically for women travellers.
You’ll traverse the lesser-known Chinchero to Urquillos trail in the Peruvian Andes alongside an all-female crew, spend time in an Andean village learning about daily life, take part in a traditional textile workshop led by local women and experience a spiritual cleansing ritual guided by a female shaman.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Broxbourne MP Lewis Cocking appeared on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show to challenge plans for a new 21,000-home town at Crews Hill, arguing that infrastructure must come before any building begins. The proposed development sits closer to Goffs Oak than to Enfield Town Hall, yet residents on the Hertfordshire side have had no say in the plans. Cocking said the M25 and A10 are already at capacity, and a development of this scale in the wrong location will make things worse for communities on both sides of the border.
The clip went viral, with residents backing his stance across social media. One Cheshunt resident pointed out that morning traffic already crawls at 20mph with nowhere to park. Others called Cocking the only elected representative speaking up about the infrastructure gap and the knock-on impact for Goffs Oak and surrounding areas.
Waltham Cross charity gives young people a sporting chance with donated basketball shoes
Sportingaid in Waltham Cross has received a donation of basketball shoes from Goods for Good UK, a charity that redistributes surplus goods to people facing hardship. The shoes are going directly to young people in the community who want to get involved in sport but lack the kit. Goods for Good works across the UK and internationally, turning surplus essentials like clothing, footwear and toiletries into support for those who need it most.
Students and nursing home residents share Easter crafts, songs and stories in Broxbourne
Twelve students visited Broxbourne Nursing Home this week for an Easter arts and crafts session, spending the morning making cards, wreaths and seasonal decorations alongside residents. The visit ended with two students performing a song and others dancing, with residents clapping and singing along. The nursing home described the students as incredibly polite and kind, and each one left with an Easter egg as a thank you.
Fishy Delishy in Broxbourne awarded Gold for health and sustainability
Fishy Delishy Fish & Grill Restaurant in Broxbourne has been awarded a Gold Herts Responsible Food Award for its commitment to supporting local health and improving the environment. Owner Murat Akkaya said health promotion and sustainability are built into the business strategy, not treated as add-ons. The restaurant aims to preserve the heritage of a traditional British fish and chip shop while improving nutritional balance and customer choice.
Lewis Cocking MP is hosting an Older Persons' Fair in Hoddesdon on 10 April
Broxbourne MP Lewis Cocking is holding an Older Persons' Fair at The Spotlight in Hoddesdon on Friday 10 April, from 10am to 2pm. The event is open to local residents of any age, and you're welcome to attend on behalf of an older friend or relative. No booking is required, but you can confirm attendance on the MP's website.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
🎉🐰 Easter Fun at Pavilions
📍 Pavilions, Broxbourne
🗓️ Friday 3 April 2026
⏰ 11:00am – 3:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — no booking needed. Free Easter eggs while stocks last
🎭 Beauty and the Beast
📍 Hertfordshire Studios, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Easter 2026 (various dates)
💷 Paid ticket
👉 Book tickets:
🏃 Kidz Klub Easter Holidays
📍 John Warner Sports Centre, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Tuesday 7 – Friday 10 April 2026
💷 Paid ticket
👉 Learn more:
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🏛️ Lewis Cocking's Older Persons' Fair
📍 The Spotlight, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BE
🗓️ Friday 10 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 2:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Confirm attendance:
🌿 Herts Go Green & Grow Workshop
📍 Online (Zoom)
🗓️ Monday 13 April 2026
⏰ 12:00pm – 1:00pm
🎟️ Free for Herts Chamber members | £15 + VAT for non-members
👉 Book your place:
💼 Working Well: Preventing Burnout in the Workplace (For Employees)
📍 Waltham Cross Community Skills Hub, Pavilions Shopping Centre
🗓️ Wednesday 15 April 2026
⏰ 9:30am – 1:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — open to employees of any Broxbourne business
👉 Book your place:
🎉 Hoddesdon Spring Fayre & Heritage Day
📍 Hoddesdon Town Centre
🗓️ Saturday 18 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 5:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👩 Women in AI and Data
📍 Theobalds Enterprise Centre, Cheshunt
🗓️ Thursday 23 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — includes book launch of "You, Me & ChatGPT" by Julie Creffield
👉 Book your place:
💼 From Plans to Proposals: Crafting Strong & Competitive Funding Applications
📍 Nigel Copping Community Building, Stanstead Abbotts
🗓️ Thursday 23 April 2026
⏰ 1:30pm – 4:30pm
🎟️ Free entry — open to VCFSE Community Alliance members in Broxbourne & East Herts (free membership available)
👉 Book your place:
🏴 St George's Family Fun Day
📍 Cheshunt
🗓️ Friday 25 April 2026
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Sponsorship enquiries: [email protected]
🏠 Landlord and Letting Agent Forum
📍 Broxbourne Borough Council, Churchgate, Cheshunt
🗓️ Tuesday 28 April 2026
⏰ 5:30pm – 7:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — includes Renters Rights Bill overview and Hertfordshire retrofit update. Light refreshments provided
👉 Book your place:
💼 Working Well: Preventing Burnout in the Workplace (For Entrepreneurs, Senior Leaders & Managers)
📍 Online (virtual session)
🗓️ Thursday 30 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 1:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — delivered by Calmer in partnership with Ambition Broxbourne and Broxbourne Borough Council
👉 Book your place:
💼 Social Media and Digital Marketing Surgery
📍 Online (1-to-1 sessions, 45 minutes each)
🗓️ April 2026 (multiple dates available)
🎟️ Free entry — funded for Broxbourne residents and businesses only
👉 Book your session:
💼 Business Start-Up Fundamentals
📍 Online (webinar)
🗓️ Tuesday 12 May 2026
⏰ 11:00am – 12:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — open to first-time founders at idea stage or within first 12 months of trading. Includes access to free 1-to-1 follow-up
👉 Book your place:
MEME of The Day
Nasa plans to visit the moon in a few days…or are they escaping fuel price rising.
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.
Sponsored by Our Resident Doctor.
🎨 TUESDAY MOTIVATION - Easter Edition
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Luke 23:34 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.23.34.NIV
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Housing Solutions Officer (Homelessness) Borough of Broxbourne | Cheshunt, EN8 9XQ Apply Now
Communications Officer Borough of Broxbourne | Cheshunt, EN8 9XQ Apply Now
Planning Officer (Policy and Projects) Borough of Broxbourne | Cheshunt, EN8 9XQ Apply Now
Trainee/Financial Inclusion Officer Borough of Broxbourne | Cheshunt, EN8 9XQ Apply Now
Assistant Centres Manager Borough of Broxbourne | Cheshunt / Hoddesdon Apply Now
Cleaner/Operations Assistant Borough of Broxbourne | John Warner Sports Centre, Hoddesdon Apply Now
Employment Specialist Get Set UK Group | Broxbourne, EN10 7AW Apply Now
Assessor Trainer – Electrical Herts Resourcing Group Ltd | Broxbourne Apply Now
Lecturer Health and Social Care Herts Resourcing Group Ltd | Broxbourne, Hertfordshire Apply Now
Hoddesdon Weather ☀ Tuesday - Friday
Tuesday 31 March 13°C 🌡️ 5°C | ⛅ Sunny intervals | ☀️ Sunrise 6:37am | Sunset 7:31pm
Wednesday 1 April 15°C 🌡️ 6°C | ☀️ Sunny | ☀️ Sunrise 6:35am | Sunset 7:33pm
Thursday 2 April 17°C 🌡️ 7°C | ☀️ Sunny | ☀️ Sunrise 6:32am | Sunset 7:35pm
Friday 3 April 13°C 🌡️ 5°C | ☁️ Overcast | ☀️ Sunrise 6:30am | Sunset 7:36pm
Source: Met Office — updated 2 March 2026
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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!
Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya
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