Ben Shahrabi

Maldon District Council has served Persimmon Homes with a breach of conditions notice after residents near the Willows Reach development in Heybridge complained about clouds of dust, debris and noise. Council leader Simon Morgan warned that construction could be halted if the approved Construction Environmental Management Plan is not followed. Persimmon said it was delivering more than 20,000 litres of water daily for dust suppression and would continue working with the council to minimize disruption; a Health and Safety Executive visit reportedly resulted in no further action.

High-achieving students from Maldon’s Plume Academy are preparing for different next steps after receiving their A-level results. Jack Long secured a place to study computer science at Selwyn College, Cambridge, while his partner Amber Sawyer plans to take a gap year before auditioning for drama school. Raphael Maingot will study physics at Merton College, Oxford, while his friends Oliver Gozzett and Jack Simper will study physics with astrophysics at Warwick. The students describe a mixture of pride, nervousness and excitement about leaving familiar friends and beginning university or other new chapters.

Students at Plume Academy in Maldon are reported to have achieved the college’s best-ever A-Level and Level 3 results. Ashton Peake achieved four A* grades and will study economics at the London School of Economics, while Jack Long and Raphael Maingot are progressing to the universities of Cambridge and Oxford respectively. Chloe Crisp achieved an A* in law and two A grades and has secured a solicitor apprenticeship at Brights Solicitors. Academy leaders praised students, staff, parents and carers for their hard work and support.

More than 15,000 children and young people across Essex are taking part in the free Read to the Beat Summer Reading Challenge, which links reading with music and creativity. Galleywood Library has attracted more than 90 participants, with staff reporting higher numbers than last year. Organised by The Reading Agency, the challenge has generated 2.3 million books read nationally so far and is intended to encourage reading for pleasure and maintain children's learning during the summer holidays. It runs until 5 September at Essex libraries and mobile libraries.