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Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},
It feels like winter has come back to Broxbourne this week and nobody asked for it. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. The forecast improves significantly by Thursday, with clear skies and temperatures climbing into the low twenties. Hold the fort.
Now, the big story this week is the Post Office. The news broke over the weekend after a post went up on Nextdoor and it has not stopped since. Political leaders across the borough have weighed in and residents are being asked to make their voices heard on whether the Post Office should stay in Waltham Cross town centre. We have the full picture below.
On a separate note, today marks the inauguration of newly elected councillors across Broxbourne. A significant day for local democracy and for the communities they now represent.
Hertfordshire Constabulary has also released figures showing a rise in domestic abuse across the county. If this is something that affects you or someone you know in our community and you want to share your experience with other residents, reply to this email and we will handle it sensitively and with your permission before sharing anything.
Right, let us get into it.
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HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Domestic abuse in Hertfordshire is up 10% - but so is the conviction rate
Hertfordshire Police recorded 12,716 domestic abuse crimes between April 2025 and February 2026, a rise of just over 10% on the previous year. Chief Constable Andy Prophet told the Police and Crime Commissioner that some of the increase reflects improved crime recording, though he acknowledged levels of harm may also have risen. On the positive side, successful resolutions are up 28%, and the conviction rate when charges are brought now stands at nearly 90%.
Hertfordshire wants to know how safe its roads feel to you
Hertfordshire County Council has launched a Road Safety Strategy consultation asking residents to share real experiences of travelling around the county, whether on foot, by bike, by car, or on public transport. The aim is to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Hertfordshire's roads, and your feedback will directly shape where improvements are prioritised. You have until the consultation closes to have your say.
We hired one colleague for every department.
Last Tuesday, marketing asked Viktor to write the weekly campaign recap, pull performance from Google Ads and Meta, and format it as a PDF for the exec team. Done in four minutes.
That same afternoon, engineering asked Viktor to review three open pull requests on GitHub, cross-reference with the Linear sprint board, and flag anything blocking the release. Posted to private channel before standup.
At 9pm, ops asked Viktor to draft a vendor contract summary from three Notion docs and send it to the team. It was in #ops by morning.
None of them knew the others were using it.
Same colleague. Three departments. That's what changes when your AI coworker lives in Slack, where your whole company already works. It's not a tool one person logs into. It's a teammate everyone messages.
5,700+ teams. SOC 2 certified. Your data never trains models.
"Viktor is now an integral team member, and after weeks of use we still feel we haven't uncovered the full potential." - Patrick O'Doherty, Director, Yarra Web
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Waltham Cross could lose its Post Office - here's what's being done about it
TGJones in Waltham Cross is closing, and the Post Office it hosts is at risk of going with it. Local councillors including Cllr Dee Hart and Cllr Lewis Cockings are pushing hard to ensure a Post Office branch stays within the town centre. If you use the Post Office in Waltham Cross, now is the time to make your voice heard. We are digging to get more stories but you can guarantee that the fuzz is real.
Struggling with the cost of living? Broxbourne has a free help directory
Broxbourne Council has published a Cost of Living Directory covering benefits advice, debt support, pension guidance, energy costs, and household help. It's free to access and built for residents who need practical support, not just information.
Planning a BBQ this summer? Here's what the law says about smoke bothering your neighbours
With warmer weather arriving, it's worth knowing your rights around smoke from bonfires, barbecues, and cigarettes in neighbouring gardens. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils are required to investigate complaints about smoke that constitutes a statutory nuisance, meaning smoke that substantially interferes with your enjoyment of your home or is likely to harm your health. Smoking in a private garden is generally considered reasonable use under UK law, making it hard to escalate legally, but garden bonfires and excessive smoke can be reported to Broxbourne Council, and if an abatement notice is ignored, fines can follow.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
💻 Free Digital Fundraising Workshop for Local Charities and Community Groups
📍 Nigel Copping Community Building, 88 Sanville Gardens, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8GA
🗓️ Thursday 21 May 2026
⏰ 1:30pm to 4:30pm
🎟️ Free entry, refreshments included
👉 Book on Eventbrite now, last few places remaining
If you run or volunteer for a local charity, community group, or social enterprise, this free workshop covers how to use digital tools to write stronger funding bids, manage project delivery, and demonstrate impact to funders. Attendees will leave with example project content ready to adapt for proposals, a list of potential delivery and marketing partners, and online training links to continue building skills after the day. Spaces are nearly gone.
🚴 Free Sofa to Saddle | Family Cycling Programme
📍 Waltham Cross
🗓️ 5-week programme, dates via Eventbrite
🎟️ Free entry, bikes and helmets provided
👉 Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-sofa-to-saddle-family-edition-tickets-1987532453070
☕ Tea for Tuesdays | Cheshunt Library
📍 Cheshunt Library, Cheshunt
🗓️ Every Tuesday
⏰ 11:00am to 1:00pm
🎟️ Free entry, donations welcome
👉 Drop in, no booking needed
🎲 Weekly Board Game Gathering | Cheshunt Library
📍 Cheshunt Library, Cheshunt
🗓️ Every Thursday
⏰ 2:00pm to 3:00pm
🎟️ Free entry, adult drop-in, no booking needed
🌿 EN11 YT Walkers | Hoddesdon Tuesday Walk
📍 Jubilee Shelter, opposite Hoddesdon Library, Hoddesdon
🗓️ Every Tuesday
⏰ 9:30am
🎟️ Free entry
🌈 LGBTQI+ Community Meet Up
📍 2nd Cheshunt Scout Hut, Goffs Lane, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross EN7 5EG
🗓️ Friday 22 May 2026
⏰ 6:00pm to 9:00pm
🎟️ Community meet-up with food, music, support, and new connections
🐕 Medical Detection Dogs Talk | Cheshunt Library
📍 Cheshunt Library, Cheshunt
🗓️ Tuesday 26 May 2026
⏰ 7:00pm
💷 £1 entry
👉 Book your seat at the library
🌿 Broxbourne Big Green Fest
📍 Cedars Park, Broxbourne
🗓️ Sunday 7 June 2026
⏰ 10:00am to 5:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Learn more: https://ow.ly/29Lo50YQoTp
💼 Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Workshop | Step2Skills
📍 [VENUE, Editor to confirm before publishing]
🗓️ Wednesday 11 June 2026 and Wednesday 2 July 2026
💷 Paid entry, price via website
👉 Book now:: https://events.hertfordshire.gov.uk/step2skills
Picture Of The Day
Active Local Waltham Cross- 5-week cycling programme for kids aged 8+ and adults
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
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves
— Carl Jung
HIS WEEK'S WEATHER 🌦 CHESHUNT / BROXBOURNE
Source: Holiday Weather (Cheshunt, Hertfordshire)
🌧 Tuesday 19 May — 13°C — Patchy rain possible. Mild but unsettled. Keep a jacket handy.
🌤 Wednesday 20 May — 14°C — Patchy rain possible with some cloudy intervals. Mostly mild and dry through the morning, chance of showers into the afternoon.
☀️ Thursday 21 May — 16°C — Clear. The best day of the week. Warm sunshine expected throughout, peaking around 22°C in the afternoon. A great day to get outside.
☀️ Friday 22 May — 15°C — Clear. Another fine day with sunshine forecast. Afternoon temperatures reaching up to 20°C.
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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!
Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya
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