Cllrs Ault and Staines

From this perspective, Cllr Ault , Andy Burnham is not the answer to Britain’s troubles, but merely another chapter in the same tired story. A career politician offering a different shade of state control is not the radical change our nation so desperately needs.

More borrowing. More bureaucracy. More union influence. More of the policies that have helped steer this once-great country into decline.

Yet perhaps the greatest frustration of all is that the British people continue to be offered the same political choices, dressed in different colours, and are then surprised when the outcome remains unchanged.

Time and again, we vote for variations of the same thinking and wonder why the nation continues along the same path. The faces change. The slogans change. The promises change. But too often, the results do not.

Britain does not need another manager of decline. Britain needs renewal.

The time has come to return power to the people and seek a fresh mandate through a General Election. We need bold leadership, radical thinking and the courage to challenge the failed orthodoxy that has held this nation back for far too long.

Let us once again become a country that rewards enterprise, builds rather than obstructs, leads rather than follows, and stands proudly on the world stage.

This nation has overcome far greater challenges than those we face today. But it will not do so by repeating the mistakes of the past. It is time for a new direction, a new vision, and a renewed belief in the greatness of the United Kingdom.

To keep doing the same thing and expect a different result is not a strategy for national recovery—it is a recipe for continued decline.

Will this effort, going on elsewhere in Essex, secure a lower housing target from UK Govt's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt?

Braintree's top down UK Govt housing target went up from 716 per year (agreed less than 5 years ago) to a whopping 1264 a year - which it has never achieved - and it means the Local Plan is out of date

For context - how many homes have been built in the district over the years?

BDC Net Dwelling completions per year C3 use class
2015 / 16 x523
2016 / 17 x291
2017 / 18 x492
2018 / 19 x534
2019 / 20 x883
2020 / 21 x847
2021 / 22 x1081
2022 / 23 x1088
2023 / 24 x1145
(2024 / 25 x929 ???)*

*In May 2025 BDC stated that 5,090 homes were completed in the district between April 2020 to March 2025 ~so an est x929 in 2024 / 25

Have housing completions peaked / are they now in decline?
(We have not seen the 2025 / 26 numbers yet).

What counter housing target figure has BDC formally shared with UK Govt to try and negotiate a lower target - to keep the BDC Local Plan effective / upto date because rural areas are already seeing a stream of unallocated development sites coming back for planning permission (again)?

As its Better Transport Week 2026 - here is a 💥blast from the past in rural Essex 💥

❤️3Fields

Local Government what?

Essex...
https://www.essex.gov.uk/news/2026/leader-voices-serious-concerns-minister-local-government-reorganisation-essex

Suffolk...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgzjpydwlyo

Norfolk...
https://www.localgov.co.uk/South-Norfolk-Council-sets-aside-250k-to-fight-LGR/64526

👀

📣Its Better Transport Week 2026 and we're launcing a new 🆕 Digigo journey survey that only takes about 3 mins per survey 👇 https://forms.office.com/r/zhiftfZrrb

⌛You can go back in time too and submit as many journey surveys as you like - in fact the more 📈the better!

🆕This initiative has been developed by Shalford Parish Council and the North Zone Bus User Group to independently collect real-time (and historic) lived experience of direct DigiGo users in the North Zone - a large rural area comprising x7 Parishes; Finchingfield, Gt Bardfield, Panfield, Rayne, Salings, Shalford and Wethersfield .

📅Our next NORTH ZONE BUS USER GROUP meeting will take place on Wednesday JULY 15 in SHALFORD VILLAGE HALL from 17.30 to 19.00 - please come along with your your journey experiences and we’ll add them to the data set for you!

📅We will shortly be announcing another NORTH ZONE BUS USER GROUP meeting in September in Gt Bardfield.

Ann Hooks - District Councillor
North Zone BUS USER GROUP

❤️3Fields

Dear Residents,

Please see the email at the bottom of this post, I have received regarding the proposed large-scale solar farm development within our area.

Whilst renewable energy has an important role to play in the UK’s future energy strategy, residents are entitled to ask whether the scale and location of this proposal is appropriate for our rural communities.

The construction phase alone raises significant concerns. Hundreds of heavy goods vehicle movements could be required to transport solar panels, steel frameworks, transformers, cabling, concrete and associated infrastructure. These vehicles would be using many of the same narrow rural roads already relied upon daily by residents, farmers, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists, pedestrians and school transport.

Beyond the immediate construction impact, many residents are questioning how much more of our beautiful North Essex countryside should be sacrificed for large-scale industrial developments.

Our countryside is not simply empty land waiting to be developed. It is part of our heritage, our landscape, our wildlife habitats and the very reason many people choose to live, work and visit this area. Once productive farmland and open countryside are covered by extensive solar infrastructure, those views and landscapes are changed for generations.

Residents have already faced proposals for major infrastructure projects, increased traffic pressures and the potential impacts of large-scale mineral extraction. Understandably, many are now asking where the line should be drawn.

As your District Councillor, I believe local people must be fully informed about the implications of developments of this scale and have the opportunity to make their views known.

This is not simply a discussion about renewable energy. It is a discussion about balancing environmental objectives with the protection of our rural communities, road safety, agricultural land, local wildlife and the character of North Essex itself.

I would encourage all residents to review the proposals carefully, understand the potential impacts and engage in the consultation process when details become available.

The future of our countryside should not be decided without the voices of the people who live here.

Protecting our countryside today ensures future generations can enjoy the North Essex landscape we all value so highly.

Mark Ault
District Councillor – Three Fields Ward

————————————————————————

From: Consultation
Sent: 01 June 2026 11:53
To: Cllr Mark Ault
Subject: Robin Hood Solar Farm – Launch of Public Consultation

Dear Cllr Mark Ault,

I am writing on behalf of Qualitas Energy to share our proposals about Robin Hood Solar Farm, a proposed c.60MW (AC) solar development located northwest of the town of Braintree in Essex.

The project would generate enough clean, renewable energy to power the equivalent of around 85% of households in Braintree, approximately 16,200 of the town’s 19,000 homes.

The site will include an onsite grid connection into an existing overhead pylon, along with associated ancillary infrastructure and a range of landscape and environmental enhancements.

The proposals will deliver a secure supply of clean energy, thereby helping to provide energy security in the UK and contribute towards the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy.

We are now undertaking a public consultation on the draft proposals, via a virtual consultation on our project website: www.robinhood-solar.co.uk. The virtual consultation can be accessed here: https://consultation.robinhood-solar.co.uk/, where you can view our consultation materials and learn more about the proposals.

As part of the virtual consultation, we will be hosting an online webinar on Tuesday 16 June from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, where we will share further details about our proposals and answer any questions you may have. To register and receive the meeting link, please email [email protected].

We would value your involvement at this stage of the consultation process, which can be done by providing feedback on the plans via email at [email protected] or the postal address or phone number below.

FREEPOST TC CONSULTATION (no further address or stamp required).
Freephone: you can call the project freephone voicemail line on 0800 699 0081 and leave a message (a member of the project team will call you back between Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm excluding public holidays)

The consultation will run until 23:59 on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Stuart Langer

Qualitas Energy (Planning Associate)
[email protected]

A Message to Every Resident Across Three Fields

We encourage every resident across Three Fields Ward and the surrounding villages to take the time to watch the video showing the reality experienced by communities living alongside silica sand quarries.

It is easy to think that a quarry is simply a hole in the ground. The reality is often very different. Increased HGV traffic, noise, dust, road wear and the gradual industrialisation of rural landscapes can have a lasting impact on communities for many years.

The proposed Bardfield Silica Sand Quarry is not somebody else’s issue. It is being proposed on the doorstep of our communities, on the rural roads we all use and in the countryside that we all cherish.

Residents should carefully consider what a significant increase in Heavy Goods Vehicle movements could mean for our area. The narrow country roads around Bardfield, Finchingfield, Shalford and neighbouring villages were never designed to become industrial haul routes. Every additional quarry lorry increases interaction with cyclists, horse riders, walkers, motorcyclists, school traffic and local residents.

Many of us use these roads daily. We understand how narrow they are, how difficult visibility can be around bends and how challenging it already is for vehicles to pass safely. Residents are entitled to question whether these roads are suitable for years of additional HGV traffic associated with a major silica sand extraction operation.

Residents should also be aware of the concerns surrounding silica dust. Respirable crystalline silica is recognised as a carcinogen following prolonged exposure, with health authorities identifying links to serious respiratory diseases including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Whilst quarry operators are required to implement dust control measures, many residents remain concerned about the potential impact of dust generated through extraction, processing and transportation activities.

Dust does not stop at the quarry boundary. Airborne particles can be carried by the wind beyond the site itself, which is why local people are asking important questions about the potential impact on nearby homes, public rights of way, farmland, schools and the wider environment.

This proposal will affect not only today’s residents but future generations who deserve to inherit the same beautiful countryside, clean air and peaceful rural landscape that we enjoy today.

Before decisions are made, every resident should inform themselves, look at the evidence, watch the experiences of communities already affected by silica sand extraction and ask one simple question:

Is this the future we want for the Bardfields and the Three Fields area?

If this proposal goes before the planning authorities, we will need the support of every resident who values our countryside, our health and our way of life. We ask you to stand with us and say NO to the proposed Bardfield Silica Sand Quarry. The strength of community opposition could make the difference between protecting our villages and living with the consequences of this development for decades to come.

Together we can protect our countryside, our villages, our roads, our air quality and our way of life.

SAY NO TO THE PROPOSED BARDFIELD SILICA SAND QUARRY

Protect Our Countryside. Protect Our Health. Protect Our Roads. Protect Our Future.

This is not about saying no to progress. It is about saying yes to protecting the place we call home.

Once a quarry is approved, the consequences can last for decades. Once our countryside is lost, it may be lost forever.

Residents Ignored as Hazardous Quarry Dust Covers Kingsteignton Roads For six months, residents in Kingsteignton have been writing letters, submitting complaints and asking for action over dust from Sibelco’s quarry operations....

“Protect Our Countryside. Stop the Sand Pit Aka Silica Sand Quarry .”

Today’s walk to the site of the proposed silica sand quarry near Bardfield sent a very clear message.

The number of residents who took the time to attend was a testament to the strength of feeling within our local communities and the growing opposition to this proposal.

People from across the area came together to see for themselves the beautiful countryside, productive farmland, wildlife habitats and rural lanes that could be permanently affected if this development goes ahead.

Residents have raised serious concerns about the impact of hundreds of additional heavy goods vehicle movements on our already stretched rural road network, together with the potential effects of silica sand dust on air quality, the environment and quality of life for those living nearby.

This was not about politics. It was about local people standing together to protect the countryside they love, the villages they call home and the health and wellbeing of future generations.

The strength of public support shown today demonstrates that this is not a small local concern. It is an issue that matters to a great many people who believe that the environmental, traffic and community impacts of this proposal are simply too great.

Thank you to everyone who attended, walked, shared their concerns and helped make their voices heard.

The message from Bardfield and the surrounding villages is clear:

No to the proposed silica sand quarry.
No to unacceptable HGV traffic.
No to unnecessary air pollution.
Yes to protecting our countryside, our communities and our future.

Panfield Summer Fete - fun this Saturday 12 noon 'till 4pm !
Thx for sharing Visit Braintree District !
❤️3 Fields

PANFIELD SUMMER FETE

Panfield's summer fete is this weekend on Saturday 13 June! Taking place on the The Bell field with stalls from local businesses from 12pm to 4pm.

The day will feature:
A dog show
Rock choir
Grosvenor School of Dance
Trials Bike Display Team
Egg throwing championship
Childrens races
Vintage cars
Prize raffle
and more displays and activities!

Then The Bell Inn will be providing a Hog Roast and live music for the evening.

Money is being raised for:
Panfield Community Association, Panfield Bell Football Clubhouse and Happy Hill.

37 Kynaston Rd, Panfield, Braintree, CM7 5AQ