Claudia Bradley

Deanswood Equestrian Centre in Cressing is portrayed as more than a riding school: it is a close-knit community centred on patience, hard work and the bond between people and horses. The centre provides lessons for beginners and experienced riders, supported by instructors and a young team who care for the horses and help run the yard. Its varied horses, each with distinct personalities, contribute to the centre’s welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere.

Claudia Bradley describes taking a riding lesson at Deanswood Equestrian Centre in Cressing. She recounts progressing from being led around the arena to steering, trotting and completing her first canter on Percy, a gentle horse who responds enthusiastically to the instructor's directions. The experience is portrayed as welcoming, exciting and encouraging for novice riders.

Claudia Bradley reflects on working at Braintree Village as a 17-year-old retail assistant at Kurt Geiger and returning years later as a reporter. She recalls the centre's busy atmosphere, shoppers preparing for special occasions, friendships among young retail workers and the opening of Polo Ralph Lauren. Her later visit coincided with the opening of Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight, and she encountered a former customer wearing shoes she had sold her. Braintree Village is credited with contributing more than £48 million to the local economy and supporting 1,028 jobs in 2025.

Residents in Earls Colne have lodged almost 20 objections to SJT Developments Ltd’s proposal to demolish a bungalow and build 36 homes, including 22 market homes and 14 affordable properties. They are concerned about the loss of green space and mature trees, harm to badgers, birds, foxes and deer, traffic risks near the A1124 junction, local infrastructure and the effect on nearby elderly residents. Braintree Council issued a tree preservation order after trees were cut down and is due to decide on the application; the developer had not provided a comment.

Steven Blanche, 54, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possessing cannabis after police searched his Braintree home in July 2023. Officers found cocaine, cannabis and £2,450 in cash, while phone evidence showed Blanche directing drug runners and drivers. His barrister said an addiction, drug debt, threats and coercion had led to his involvement, and that he was now drug-free, caring for his father and determined to rebuild his life. He was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court to two years and four months in prison, suspended for three years, and ordered to pay £150 in costs and a victim surcharge.

Rayne is presented as a compact destination for a relaxed day out, combining the Flitch Way walking and cycling route, Oak Meadow Nature Reserve, village pubs, restaurants and the Booking Hall Café at the former railway station. The Rayne Heritage Trail offers a route through the village featuring All Saints Parish Church and other historic buildings, while National Lottery funding is supporting improvements to Oak Meadow Nature Reserve through the Parish Council.

Kyle Griffith-Barwell, 39, admitted driving his newly purchased Audi A5 without insurance after mistakenly believing his existing cover would transfer. Although he already had six points for speeding and faced possible disqualification, Colchester Magistrates’ Court accepted that losing his licence would cause exceptional hardship because he supports his wife and two young children, including a newborn, and takes his father to hospital appointments during cancer treatment. He kept his licence with 12 points and was ordered to pay £2,002, including a £1,344 fine, surcharge and costs.

Twelve-year-old Braintree competitor Oliver Wood has qualified a second dog, Ping, for Crufts 2027, joining his nan’s rescue collie Lexi. At the RVA Championship Show in Ramsey, Oliver won the Junior Jumping Cup with Ping, placed second with Lexi, and achieved further second- and third-place finishes with Shetland Sheepdog Dex.

Faulty traffic lights on Mill Hill in Braintree have caused confusion among drivers and unsafe conditions for pedestrians, including schoolchildren, with multiple near misses reported. Residents say the issue has persisted for more than a month despite reports to Essex Highways. The agency sent contractors to investigate but has not yet identified a clear cause, prompting renewed concern over public safety.

A councillor in Essex raised concerns that the Indaver Rivenhall waste facility has diverged from its original Integrated Waste Management Facility plan, with only the incinerator component constructed while approved recycling and processing units were not built. Paul Thorogood argued the project undermines efforts toward waste reduction and a circular economy. Indaver representatives said changing waste patterns have reduced the need for some facilities but stated they still have permission to develop them if conditions change.

A publicly accessible defibrillator in Braintree, installed in memory of Scott Gilhooly, was vandalised with graffiti for the second time, prompting frustration within the community. The Witham Hub condemned the act as disrespectful to both the lifesaving purpose of the device and the memory of the man it commemorates. Local firm Xpedia Limited removed the graffiti free of charge, while the charity Promise of Hope continues fundraising to support the wider community defibrillator network.

The Swan, a Grade II-listed former pub in Braintree, has been put up for sale after years of stalled redevelopment plans. Originally purchased by entrepreneur Barrie Drewitt-Barlow for conversion into a high-end dining venue, progress halted amid planning issues and his subsequent criminal charges. The property is now marketed as a development opportunity with potential for hospitality, residential or mixed-use purposes. Local authorities express willingness to work with new owners to bring the historic site back into active use.

Braintree musician Rob Jones, formerly of Missing Andy, is promoting his solo song Stand Together as a unifying anthem for England’s World Cup campaign in the USA. He hopes local residents and businesses will support the track by adding it to their playlists, and the song is available on major streaming platforms with a video accessible via his social media channels.

A proposal by Oasthouse Ventures calls for 100 acres of greenhouses at the Indaver Rivenhall site in Essex, using the plant’s heat, electricity and carbon dioxide to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually. The project aims to reduce reliance on imports, cut food miles and ensure fresher produce amid climate pressures affecting production in countries like Spain and Morocco. The plan promises economic benefits including job creation and potential partnerships with universities while offering a stable, low‑carbon model for domestic tomato production.