Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},

The weather was gorgeous over the weekend but Bank Holiday Monday had other plans - cloudy and chilly. Rain will be welcomed because the gardens could do with a drink right now. How has your driving being as prices at the fuel court continue to rise? RAC experts have advised on how to stretch every litre a little further: maintain your car routinely, travel light, and ease off the accelerator. Simple habits, real savings.

On a more serious note, the UK's national threat level remains severe following the terror attack in north London, meaning security services consider another attack highly likely. Please stay alert and look out for one another.

Many of us head to the polls this Thursday 7 May to choose our local leaders. We at Broxtown will bring you the results as they come in once the polls close.

This edition is packed with updates from across town, a full events calendar to get you out and about this May, and a surprise update at the end you will not want to miss. An editorial on the 2027 Scout Jamboree will be out tomorrow - watch this space.

💌 Love this newsletter? Share it with a friend or family member and buy me a coffee if you haven't already 😉

AI Workshop for Local Small Businesses

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This hands-on workshop is for local businesses and entrepreneurs who want to build real applications using AI tools, not just talk about it.

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Most Hertfordshire families don't know the half of what's available to them, and that's exactly the problem this story fixes. The Herts Card unlocks discounts on activities and days out, with broader support ranging from free family centre sessions for under-fives to young carers support, teen mental health drop-ins, and community supermarkets now running at eight locations across the county. Whether you are managing costs, navigating SEND, or simply want to know what exists, the full picture is one link away.

Read more →

Overnight roadworks are already under way on the A1000 and B197 following pressure from local schools and residents, and the new limits are legally in force from Tuesday 19 May. The A1000 drops to 40mph and the B197 through Oaklands gets a reinforced 30mph limit, with signed diversions during closures. Works then shift to London Road in Welwyn between 18 May and 26 June to improve safety for children walking to Welwyn St Mary's Primary and Tenterfield Nursery.

Read more →

Most people assume anime & manga are Japanese industries. The numbers tell a different story.

For the first time in history, international revenue has surpassed Japan’s. Netflix says viewership tripled in five years, with over half of its 300M subscribers watching.

TOKYOPOP’s been preparing for this moment for nearly 30 years. They helped bring anime and manga to the West in the 90s, becoming one of the industry’s most-respected names.

In the process, they earned licensing contracts with giants like Nintendo and Disney and saw their stories told in 50 countries and 30+ languages. That’s translated to $15M in annual revenue.

And it’s just beginning. The anime & manga market’s projected to grow from $37B today to $60B by 2030. Get 5% in guaranteed TOKYOPOP investor bonus stock by May 6 as they scale toward $50M in targeted 2030 revenue.

Invest in TOKYOPOP Today

^{This is a paid advertisement for TokyoPop Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.tokyopop.com/}

If you have been driving around in circles looking for a space near the Pavilion or the market, that ordeal is over. Waltham Cross High Street Car Park has reopened, ending what has been the better part of eight to nine months of genuine hardship for shoppers, market traders, and residents who simply needed somewhere to park while getting on with their weekly routine.

The closure was always part of the plan. The regeneration of Waltham Cross town centre has been a significant undertaking, and the council pushed ahead knowing that the disruption was a necessary price for long-term improvement. But knowing it was necessary did not make it easier. For elderly residents and disabled drivers in particular, the hunt for accessible spaces during this period has been more than an inconvenience. It has been a real barrier, week after week, just to do what most people take for granted.

They bore it. And now the wait is over.

The reopening of the High Street car park means proper, close-proximity parking is back for shoppers using the Pavilion, the market, and the wider town centre. Credit to the council for seeing the regeneration through, and credit to residents for the patience they have shown throughout. Waltham Cross is better for it.

📧 For queries: [email protected]

If you are a landlord sitting on a vacant property, Broxbourne Council will now pay you to do something useful with it. A new one-year pilot launched on 1 May offers £750 to new landlords joining the Simple Lets scheme, £1,000 to existing landlords who bring in an additional property, and a £300 referral bonus on top. The scheme covers the deposit and first month's rent, provides free tenancy agreements and offers accompanied viewings, taking the hassle out of letting to council-referred tenants.

📧 Email [email protected] to find out more Read more →

Broxbourne goes to the polls on Thursday 7 May and photo ID is required to vote in person at both. Alongside the local elections, Flamstead End and Turnford residents will also be voting in a Hertfordshire County Council by-election, triggered after Reform UK councillor Tony Hill resigned in March 2026, less than a year after winning the seat by just 28 votes in May 2025. Check what photo ID is accepted before you leave the house, and do not assume the same rules apply as previous elections.

Check accepted photo ID →

Lowewood Museum is building a community cloak, and they need Broxbourne residents to help make it. As part of their Behind the Seams exhibition, which showcases costumes and accessories from the museum's collection, the Community Threads project is inviting individuals, groups, and organisations to create and donate a single fabric square that will be stitched together with others into one unique piece to be displayed in the museum. Your square can feature anything - patterns, club logos, local landmarks, or whatever represents you or your community.

Squares should be approximately 6 x 6 inches, submitted by 16 May 2026, and can be dropped off at Lowewood Museum (Fridays and Saturdays, 10am–4:30pm), Goffs Oak Community Library, or Waltham Cross Library during public opening hours. A free family craft session is also running at Waltham Cross Library on Saturday 9 May, 10am–12:30pm, if you want help getting started.

Find out more and get involved →

The sun is out. The balcony doors are open. There is only one place to be.

Fishy Delishy is Cheshunt's home of fresh, sustainable food locally loved, responsibly sourced, and best enjoyed with the warm air coming in and nowhere else to be.

Whether it is a long lunch or a leisurely dinner, this is Broxbourne's answer to eating well without the guilt. Fresh fish, honest cooking, good people.

Healthy eating. Sustainable choices. Right on your doorstep.

👉 Find us in Cheshunt — https://fishydelishy.com

Proud to be part of the Broxbourne community.

A new blog sparked by a local event on women and AI is making the case clearly: waiting to get to grips with this technology is not a neutral choice. The piece, published by Broxbourne Enterprise Centre, draws on the psychology of technology adoption and gives practical encouragement to women who want to start learning without knowing where to begin. The core message is direct: get started now and learn as you go.

Read the blog →

Most of us avoid the conversation until we have no choice. Dying Matters Awareness Week runs 4–10 May this year under the theme "Let's talk about Death and Dying," and Hertfordshire libraries have updated their resources to help. Their blog covers grief, loss, and practical advice, including a curated reading list and links to organisations like Hospice UK. If you prefer not to ask a librarian directly, every library has a Social Care Hub where you can browse privately with no questions asked.

Read the blog → | Hospice UK →

Deaf Awareness Week runs 4–10 May and Cheshunt Library is using it to nudge anyone who has been putting off a hearing check. Their blog on hearing loss covers what to look out for and where to get support, without you needing to speak to anyone if that feels uncomfortable. Every library also has a Social Care Hub where you can browse information independently.

Read the blog →

The James Foundation is hosting a Rainbow Baby and Parent Walk and Talk at Cedars Park on Sunday 31 May, 10am to 12pm, offering a relaxed, welcoming space for rainbow baby families to connect, share stories and support one another over a gentle walk. All parents and rainbow babies are welcome, and the event is free. If you or someone you know has been through baby loss, this is a safe space worth knowing about.

👉 www.thejamesfoundation.co.uk

If setting boundaries and keeping to routines feels like a daily battle, this one is worth an hour of your time. CHEXS is hosting a free Parenting Unplugged session at Waltham Cross Library on Wednesday 6 May, 12pm to 1pm, focused on practical support for parents and carers. Booked tickets take priority but walk-ins are welcome if spaces remain.

Book via Eventbrite → | Or call 07970 498 966 / email [email protected]

Waltham Cross gets a brand new community cycling space this month, launching at the Playing Fields on Station Approach on Saturday 16 May, 10am to 12pm. The free opening event is backed by British Cycling, Sport England, Hertfordshire Cycling and the Borough of Broxbourne, with cycling activities and community programming on the day. Booking is required, so do not leave it to the day.

👉 Book your place via the Active Local Waltham Cross QR code or Click here

Three films, one square, and no ticket required. Waltham Cross Outdoor Cinema returns to Queen Eleanor Square on Tuesday 26 May with a full day of screenings: Zootropolis 2 at 11am, The SpongeBob Movie at 1pm, and a sing-along showing of Wicked: For Good to close at 3pm. Bring your own chairs, blankets and snacks, and enjoy face painting, stalls, a balloon twister and a pamper station on the day.

Read more →

The Goffs Oak Community Association is pulling out all the stops on Saturday 13 June with a Summer Fayre and Dog Show running back to back at Valley View park. The fayre runs 12 noon to 5pm with live music, food and drinks, 50+ stalls, bouncy castle, Punch and Judy, mini golf, fitness challenges and a raffle, raising funds for Stargardt's Connected, The James Foundation and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance. Dog owners get their moment in the spotlight too, with a community dog show sponsored by Refine Beauty running from 1pm to 3pm.

📍 Valley View, Goffs Lane, EN7 5ET

If your dog has got what it takes, Barclay Park in Hoddesdon wants to find out. The Friends of Barclay Park are running a Fun Dog Show on Sunday 14 June, 10am to 2pm, with eight categories from Handsome Boy and Prettiest Girl through to Waggiest Tail, Best Trick, Rescue Dog and Best Puppy. Category winners go head to head at 2pm for Best in Show, with rosettes awarded from first to fifth place in every category. Entry is just £2 per dog per category, with a maximum of 25 dogs per category, and all dogs must be on a short lead, over three months old and not in season. Stalls, face painting and refreshments round out the day.

📧 [email protected] 👉 Facebook: Friends of Barclay Park, Hoddesdon, Herts

🎉👨‍👩‍👧 Parenting Unplugged — Routines and Boundaries
📍 Waltham Cross Library, Waltham Cross
🗓️ Wednesday 6 May 2026
⏰ 12:00 – 13:00
🎟️ Free (booking recommended)
👉 Book: Eventbrite / 07970 498 966 / [email protected]

🚲 Waltham Cross Cycle Hub Grand Opening
📍 Waltham Cross Playing Fields, Station Approach, EN8 7LX
🗓️ Saturday 16 May 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 12:00
🎟️ Free (booking required)
👉 Active Local Waltham Cross programme

🎉 Christ Church Waltham Cross — Spring Fayre
📍 Trinity Lane (opposite Theobalds Grove Station), Waltham Cross
🗓️ Saturday 16 May 2026
⏰ 10:30 – 14:00
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Plants, BBQ, Pimms, raffle, tombola, toys, cakes, bouncy castle

🎬 Waltham Cross Outdoor Cinema
📍 Queen Eleanor Square, Waltham Cross
🗓️ Tuesday 26 May 2026
⏰ From 11:00 (films from 15:00)
🎟️ Free (no booking required)
👉 Zootropolis 2 | SpongeBob | Wicked sing-along

🌈 Rainbow Baby and Parent Walk and Talk
📍 Cedars Park, Broxbourne
🗓️ Sunday 31 May 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 12:00
🎟️ Free entry
👉 All parents and rainbow babies welcome

🌿 Broxbourne Big Green Fest — including Swap Shop
📍 Cedars Park, Broxbourne
🗓️ Sunday 7 June 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 17:00
🎟️ Free entry

🎉 Goffs Oak Summer Fayre
📍 Valley View, Goffs Lane, Goffs Oak, EN7 5ET
🗓️ Saturday 13 June 2026
⏰ 12:00 – 17:00
🎟️ Free entry

🐶 Goffs Oak Community Dog Show
📍 Valley View, Goffs Lane, Goffs Oak, EN7 5ET
🗓️ Saturday 13 June 2026
⏰ 13:00 – 15:00
🎟️ Free entry

🐶 Fun Dog Show - Barclay Park
📍 Barclay Park, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Sunday 14 June 2026
⏰ Registration from 10:00 | Categories from 10:30 | Best in Show at 14:00
🎟️ £2 per dog, per category
👉 [email protected] | Facebook: Friends of Barclay Park, Hoddesdon, Herts

🧠 Hoddesdon Library Summer Quiz Night
📍 Hoddesdon Library, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Friday 19 June 2026
⏰ 19:00
🎟️ Free (booking required)
👉 tinyurl.com/3m2un6t6

Borough of Broxbourne | Broxbourne & East Herts Shared Planning Lawyer Up to £68,506 p.a. | Permanent | 37hrs | Closes 17 May 2026 Apply Now →

Borough of Broxbourne | Broxbourne & East Herts Shared Litigation Lawyer Up to £58,451.12 p.a. | Permanent | 37hrs | Closes 31 May 2026 Apply Now →

Borough of Broxbourne | Bishops College, Cheshunt Housing Policy and Performance Manager £43,540.12 p.a. | Permanent | 37hrs | Closes 24 May 2026 Apply Now →

Borough of Broxbourne | Laura Trott & John Warner Sports Centres Operations Manager £34,840.00 p.a. | Permanent | 40hrs | Closes 17 May 2026 Apply Now →

Borough of Broxbourne | The Spotlight, Hoddesdon Box Office Customer Service Assistant £13,291.20 p.a. | Permanent | 20hrs | Evenings & weekends | Closes 24 May 2026 Apply Now →

Borough of Broxbourne | Bishops College, Cheshunt Mobile Locality Officer From £32,227 p.a. | Permanent | 37hrs | Closes 13 May 2026 — apply soon Apply Now →

CHESHUNT

Monday 4 May 14°C 🌡️ 9°C | ☁️ Overcast morning, clouds and sun afternoon | ☀️ Sunrise 05:26 | Sunset 20:29

Tuesday 5 May 15°C 🌡️ 6°C | ⛅ Sunny intervals developing through the day | ☀️ Sunrise 05:24 | Sunset 20:31

Wednesday 6 May 16°C 🌡️ 7°C | ☀️ Dry with warm sunshine, strong easterly breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 05:22 | Sunset 20:33

Thursday 7 May 20°C 🌡️ 6°C | ☀️ Warmest day of the week — wall-to-wall sunshine | ☀️ Sunrise 05:20 | Sunset 20:35

Friday 8 May 16°C 🌡️ 5°C | ⛅ Sunny spells, lighter winds, possible shower | ☀️ Sunrise 05:18 | Sunset 20:37

Source: Met Office & The Weather Outlook — updated 4 May 2026

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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!