Category: Blog

Tour de Tendring Cycle Ride - Sunday, May 19th

Tour de Tendring Cycle Ride – Sunday, May 19th

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

Tour de Tendring 2024 – Sunday, May 19th.

Timings: 20 & 60 mile route: 8.00am-9.00am.
Routes: 60 or 20 mile circular routes.
CLACTON START/FINISH: Hazlemere site, Lyndhurst Rd., Holland-on-Sea CO15 5HT.
DOVERCOURT (HARWICH) START/FINISH: Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles, Wick Lane, Dovercourt, Harwich CO12 3TS.

Choosing a Start and Finish point in either, Dovercourt (Harwich) or Clacton-on-Sea, the shared routes will connect the two towns. With 60 or 20 mile circular routes, cycle through the picturesque district of Tendring – perfect cycling country with quiet roads, low hills and views to the sea.

Organised by Bike Events, the journey will take you past many points of interest including St Osyth with its historic Martello Tower, Great Bentley – which boasts the biggest village green in England and Great Oakley, its roots stretching back to the Domesday Book and, of course, Clacton – famous for its pier, pleasure gardens and seafront. Unwind at both Finish-points where your supporters, colleagues, nearest & dearest, friends etc. can give you a warm welcome!

For more information, route details and to take the challenge and sign up visit www.bike-events.co.uk
Charities www.bike-events.co.uk/Charities


Beach Patrol gearing up for summer season

Beach Patrol gearing up for summer season

Posted on by Sarah Daniells
Beach Patrol 2024

Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Beach Patrol is gearing up for the summer season – and encouraging visitors to the Essex Sunshine Coast to Respect the Water.

People are being reminded to obey basic safety rules when visiting the coastline: following advice from warning flags; not swimming near, around or under structures such as piers, groynes and breakwaters; knowing their depth, being wary of sudden drops in the sea floor, and being aware of tides and currents; and not swimming while drunk.

This year will see a changed approach to Beach Patrol coverage along the beaches between Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze; patrols along Princes Esplanade in Walton; and a presence to the East side of Clacton Pier.

These are part of the existing coverage provided in Brightlingsea, Dovercourt Bay, Frinton, Walton and Clacton by the service.

The changes are among the recommendations made following a review of the service by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), and TDC is putting in place some of the short-term measures while it considers the wider feedback.

Due to the Easter holidays being early this year, Beach Patrol will not begin operations until the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend, which is also the start of school’s summer half-term break.

This allows the team more time for training and preparations for what is hoped will be a busy summer along the Essex Sunshine Coast.

Four new Changing Places facilities open in Tendring

Four new Changing Places facilities open in Tendring

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

Four new specialist toilet and changing facilities have opened along the Essex Sunshine Coast.

Changing Places facilities have been built in Brightlingsea, Clacton, Frinton and Holland-on-Sea by Tendring District Council (TDC).

A Changing Places facility is for people who cannot use traditional disabled toilets and include hoists, height-adjustable changing tables and sinks, and shower facilities too.

The four new amenities join five existing ones in Tendring, and anyone wishing to apply for a key to access them can apply on the TDC website at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/leisure/seafront-and-beaches/changing-places.

Grant funding of £300,000 from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities paid for the new facilities in Brightlingsea, Clacton and Holland Haven; while Essex County Council’s Short Breaks service, which supports disabled children in the county, funded the site in Frinton.

Full details of the locations of Changing Places facilities, and how to access them, can be found on the national website at www.changing-places.org/find.

Networking event to be held at Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre

Networking event to be held at Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

Monday, 15 April at the Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre from 9.30am to 1pm.

Join the Tendring4Growth team and guest experts for a free casual networking event exploring a range of grants available across the Tendring District – some of which close in the next few months.

Learn how the Rural England Prosperity Fund supports projects that aid rural businesses with small-scale investments, and assists rural communities with capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups.

They will also discuss The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aids a large variety of projects, from enhancing cultural, historical, and heritage institutions; boosting the visitor economy; providing town centre animations; and shopfront improvement grants; to enhancing life, career and financial skills; supporting employed individuals to address barriers to education/training; offering ‘Extend the Season’ events; and widening participation in sports and leisure activities.

Secure your free ticket by signing up at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tendrings-shared-prosperity-fund-rural-england-prosperity-fund-launch-tickets-863806688057

Nominations open for the 2024 Tendring Youth Awards

Nominations open for the 2024 Tendring Youth Awards

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

Nominations have opened for the eighth Tendring Youth Awards – including a new category for 2024.

The awards celebrate amazing accomplishments by young people who live, study or work in Tendring, across a wide range of categories; as well as adults who support them.

Nominations open now, ahead of the glitzy gala awards evening in July, to give people plenty of time to put forward young people.

Harwich Haven Authority returns as headline sponsors of the awards for a fifth year, with the Tendring Youth Awards also supported by Tendring District Council and Essex County Council.

Other sponsors so far include the Princes Theatre, Tendring Careline, Actual Radio, Halterman Carless and Aquinas Provisions Ltd, while Latimer by Clarion Housing Group and TimeLine Auctions Limited join as new sponsors for 2024.

Newly introduced for 2024 is a Young Life Saver Award, to recognise young people who have either directly saved a life, or who have taught and shared skills to train others to do so.

This joins the existing ten categories such as Community Improvement and Environmental Initiative – both of which come with a bursary for the winner – and the Unsung Hero award for adults who support young people.

This year the Tendring Youth Awards committee has also re-named the former Volunteer Award to ‘For the Good of All’, in recognition of wider community volunteering that many young people carry out.

Individuals or groups of young people, such as youth organisations, can be nominated; while the various categories recognise academic achievement, inspirational caring, work in the community and efforts to help the environment, among others.

A panel of judges assess the nominations after the deadline of Sunday, 21 April, and compile a shortlist of finalists, who will be invited to a glitzy presentation evening at Clacton’s Princes Theatre on Tuesday, 9 July.

Karen O’Connor, Chairwoman of the Tendring Youth Awards, said that a decade on (the awards missed two years due to Covid-19) she was still humbled by the incredible achievements of young people in the area.

“Each and every year we learn about some truly incredible young people, and I cannot wait to see the nominations this year,” Karen said.

“However, that is only possible with your help – so please think about young people you know and put them forward for a Tendring Youth Award.

“I am particularly looking forward to seeing what nominations we receive in our new category, Young Life Saver, which I am confident will be full of inspiring stories.

“I would also like to thank our sponsors for their continued support – particularly our headline sponsors, Harwich Haven Authority, and our new sponsors for this year, Latimer by Clarion Housing Group and TimeLine Auctions – and if your business or organisation would like to sponsor the awards, please do get in touch.”

To nominate someone for a Tendring Youth Award, complete an online nomination form at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/tendring-youth-awards or request a form and submit it via thetendringyouthawards@gmail.com – alternatively you can fill it out and return it by post to Tendring Youth Awards (Nominations), Town Hall, Clacton, CO15 1SE.

Source: https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/news/nominations-open-for-the-2024-tendring-youth-awards

Tendring business owners invited to free event for staff support

Tendring business owners invited to free event for staff support

Posted on by Sarah Daniells
T4G Support your staff

This free-to-attend ‘Supporting Your Staff’ event is designed for SMEs, either already employing staff or new to recruitment, to learn more about the current schemes available to assist with employee support, as well as more general topics including current legislation and advice from a Human Resources (HR) perspective.

Our keynote speakers include, with more to be announced:
Paula Fisher from Practical HR, who will be speaking about the DAAWN Project (Domestic Abuse awareness in the Workplace Now), which enables SMEs to recognise the signs of employees living with domestic abuse (supported by Essex Chambers of Commerce).

Tracey Salisbury from HR Prime Services Ltd, a local company, who will be speaking about the general HR picture for small businesses.

Debbie Burns from Able Futures, who will be speaking to give information, resources, and guidance available through Able Futures relating to employee’s mental health.

This event will be taking place:
14th March 2024
10:00am to 12:30pm
At the Jaywick Sunspot, Brooklands, Jaywick, Essex, CO15 2JG

Join us for this thought-provoking and informative event at the Jaywick Sunspot, with light refreshments provided and plenty of time for networking with other like minded business people afterwards. See you there!

Sign up at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/supporting-your-staff-tickets

Sunspot shortlisted in architecture awards

Sunspot shortlisted in architecture awards

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

The Sunspot development in Jaywick Sands has been recognised for its architecture.

The commercial workspace and retail development, run by Tendring District Council (TDC), has been shortlisted for a 2024 MacEwen Award – a scheme run by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Journal.

Designed by Colchester-based HAT Projects and built by Essex firm TJ Evers, the Sunspot is a £5.3million project made up of 24 commercial units – a mixture of retail and office space – along with a covered market, event space, café and other amenities.

It received £2.39million from the Government’s Getting Building Fund administered by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), with an additional £2.04million funding coming from Essex County Council (ECC), and £816,000 from TDC; which is also using part of its UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation for operating costs.

Sunspot is one of 13 projects to be shortlisted in the award, and is in the final two in the Workplace and social enterprise category – and the winners are due to be announced at the end of this month (January 2024).

The accolade follows other recognition in the architecture sector, with Observer critic Rowan Moore listing Sunspot as one of the five best architecture projects of 2023 – describing it as “a new landmark” for Jaywick Sands.

Hana Loftus, one of the directors of HAT Projects, said the recognition was high praise for the work.

“We hope the community in Jaywick Sands is proud that Sunspot is gaining recognition for its innovative model and impactful design – this project is for them first and foremost,” she said.

“Everyone deserves beautifully-designed buildings in their neighbourhoods, bringing joy to everyday life as well as helping people to thrive through the facilities and opportunities they provide.

“Our practice ethos is founded on bringing that joy and care into every project and as a locally based practice, it is particularly special to be able to make a difference in our local area.”

Councillor Ivan Henderson, TDC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, added: “A key aspect of the whole Sunspot project was to create something that could act as a gateway to the part of Jaywick Sands it sits on, so to have it described as a ‘landmark’ means we have definitely hit the brief.

“Sunspot is proving very successful, a popular place for businesses to base themselves and for people to visit.

“My thanks go to everyone involved in making Sunspot a success, and particularly to HAT Projects for their design which has led to this fantastic recognition.”

Councillor Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Planning a Growing Economy at Essex County Council, said: “It is great to see that the Sunspot Development has been recognised nationally. It really is a fantastic space for businesses, helping both new and existing business to flourish.

“It is also proving to be a valued local place for residents and those further afield to visit and enjoy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved for all their hard work in making the development possible.”

Source: www.tendringdc.gov.uk/news/sunspot-shortlisted-in-architecture-awards

Council commits to Clacton Airshow for four years

Council commits to Clacton Airshow for four years

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

Clacton Airshow will go ahead for the next four years under a commitment made today (Friday, 25 January).

A Cabinet meeting held at event organisers Tendring District Council (TDC) agreed to run a Clacton Airshow annually up to and including 2027 during a meeting this morning.

Clacton Airshow – which is staging its 31st event this year on 22-23 August – regularly attracts 250,000 visitors over the two days, and is worth an estimated £12.2million to the local economy.

Clacton Airshow Crowd

Ivan Henderson, TDC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, said the four-year decision put the event on a more sustainable footing.

“Clacton Airshow is a fantastic event, there is no doubt about that, and gives a huge added value to the district economy,” Cllr Henderson said.

“It also involves a serious commitment of money, time and resources from this council; all things we – like local authorities up and down the country – do not have endless supplies of and need to carefully consider where we use them.

“The economic benefits, and the smiles on people’s faces as they turn their eyes to the skies, make Clacton Airshow a worthwhile investment. By committing to it for four years, instead of annually, means the brilliant team that puts it together can benefit from economies of scale and explore further income options to reduce its cost to the council – safeguarding its future going forward.

“We are confident this will be a welcome decision, not only from the hundreds of thousands of flight fans, but also from local residents who told us in our recent Corporate Plan consultation that the event was something they were proud of. Indeed, this meets Our Vision theme of promoting our offer and attracting visitors to the area.”

The decision does not mean that the Airshow will end in 2027, but will be subject to a further review and commitment.

Keep up to date at www.clactonairshow.com

Couple looking up at the sky
Visit Essex Destination Management Plan survey

Visit Essex Destination Management Plan survey

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

Visit Essex is the destination management organisation for the county and its remit is to promote and develop tourism across Greater Essex.

They have just appointed Tomorrow’s Tourism Ltd. to help develop a Destination Management Plan which will give a clear route map for our county with a new vision, objectives and actions to drive the growth of the visitor economy.

They would love to hear your views on what’s important. Please go to the survey here  https://survey.zohopublic.eu/zs/nADXwa and tell us more about what the future of tourism in Essex should look like.

Five star reviews for Aladdin panto at Princes Theatre

Five star reviews for Aladdin panto at Princes Theatre

Posted on by Sarah Daniells

Five-star reviews have been pouring in for this year’s pantomime at the Princes Theatre, Clacton – and it is not too late to book your tickets.

Audiences have left glowing comments about Aladdin from its early performances, and anyone who has not yet bought tickets are encouraged to do so before the shows sell out.

Tickets for the pantomime – whose stars include former Eastenders star ‘Nasty Nick’ John Altman, pop sensation Cleopatra Higgins, and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Graeme Matthews as Wishee Washee – can be bought at www.princestheatre.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01255 686633 (option 1).

Reviews left on the Princes Theatre’s TripAdvisor include:

“Omg what a show! Aladdin. Amazing show and cast and the team that look after the theatre are great! Hilarious and brilliant. A must for any age group in my humble opinion.” Lucy W.

“Absolutely brilliant performance by the entire pantomime actors and crew. Really funny and entertaining involving the audience more than other pantomimes I’ve been to in past years. Highly recommend great for all the family of all ages.” Sharon P.

“Christmas panto Aladdin. Very good. Loved it. We had no children in our party but everyone thought it was great. Look out for the Christmas trees they are very funny.” Hazel B.

Among the first to see the pantomime were more than 650 members of Girl Guiding and Scouting from across North Essex, who not only gave great feedback but also awarded a special Aladdin Takeover Brownie badge to theatre staff.

Mick Barry, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Leisure at Tendring District Council, which runs the Princes Theatre, said the reviews did not come as a surprise.

“We have come to expect a fantastic performance from Anton Benson Productions and this year is no exception – as these reviews prove,” Councillor Barry said.

“The entire cast and Princes Theatre have done an amazing job and these reviews recognise all of their dedication to staging a top-class pantomime.

“So if you have not yet booked your tickets what are you waiting for? Now you don’t have to take our word for what a great show it is, buy your tickets and come and see it for yourself.”

Tickets cost £16 (£15 concessions) or £56 for a family of four, and are available from www.princestheatre.co.uk or on 01255 686633 (option 1).