EPPING TOWN COUNCIL - MEDIA RELEASE - Mayor highlights key moments of civic year

â€‹Mayor highlights key moments of civic year

Key moments of the civic year were highlighted by mayor Michael Wright at Epping Town Council's Annual Town Meeting.

In the last 12 months the council has completed the refurbishment of the Ivy Chimneys play area thanks to a Â£40,000 contribution from the redevelopment of the Spotted Dog pub site, Â£20,000 from Essex County Council and Â£10,000 from the town council itself.

The Epping in Bloom group, in its first year - with Â£2,000 funding from the town council - launched itself with a planting project at the Tower Road Green which saw schoolchildren design the various planters.

Mr Wright said: "They have started making a real difference to the town with their wonderful floral displays."

The group also installed two floral barrels outside Epping Fire Station, with the support of the Royal British Legion, to remember the Fallen of the town.

Now Epping in Bloom is looking to transform the Market Garden Terrace next to Marks and Spencer.

Initiatives and events continued by the town council this year were the St George's Day and Christmas window competitions, the Rose Bowl trophy for the best business floral display, the Townsperson of the Year and the Town Show.

Mr Wright also reported on the continental markets - French and Italian - which are organised by the town council in the High Street, the success of the Christmas market which attracted record numbers last year and the Christmas lights, which last year include a Light Curtain down St John's Church.

Mr Wright said: "We are a very busy council involved in many different areas of Epping. It is a privilege to be chairman and to be able to help make a small difference to our town."

Attendees joined in with a Neighboiurhood Planning exercise and were invited to view the Neighbourhood Plan displays which showed the progress made to date.

* The council presented two awards at the Annual Town Meeting.

Trevor and Janice King received a Civic Award Certificate of Merit "in recognition of the careful attention to detail by extending 37 Kendal Avenue in keeping with the style of the original house whilst blending in with the street scene".

An allotment award for the Meadow Road site was presented to Vince Pascale. The award for the Lower Bury Lane plot has been awarded to Phillip Hockley who was unable to attend Friday's meeting.