Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre Parish Council

12/10/2026

🌳 **FREE TREE GIVEAWAY – 2026!** 🌳

Fancy planting a tree in your garden? Chelmsford City Council’s Tree Giveaway is now open!

As part of its *Our Plan – Greening Chelmsford Strategy*, the Council is giving away **1,200 free trees** to local residents. 🌱

There are four varieties to choose from:
🌲 Scots Pine
🍒 Wild Service Tree
🌸 Wild Cherry
🌿 Spindle

📅 **Claim your free tree by 5 November 2026.**

Trees will be available for collection in late November as part of National Tree Week.

👉 **Find out more and claim your tree here:**
https://loveyourchelmsford.co.uk/tree-giveaway/

Let's help make Chelmsford greener, one tree at a time! 💚

This winter, Chelmsford City Council is once again offering 1,200 free trees to residents. It’s part of our Space to thrive campaign, which aims to lend a helping hand to the nature on our doorsteps and bring us joy in the process. Every part of the Chelmsford area has a role to play in creating c...

23/09/2026

🏡 Could you help shape the future of our Parish?

Woodham Ferrers & Bicknacre Parish Council is beginning work on a Neighbourhood Plan, and we’re looking for local residents who would like to get involved.

At our recent public meeting about the proposed 99 homes at Horseshoe Farm, four people expressed an interest in helping with a Neighbourhood Plan — and we’d love to hear from more of you!

You don’t need planning experience — just an interest in our community and its future.

👉 Please click the link below to find out more and, if you’re interested in volunteering, email the Parish Clerk:
[email protected]

This is community-led, so we need your help! 🌳🏡

15/09/2026

📢 REMINDER – PUBLIC MEETING THIS FRIDAY

Just 3 days to go until our public meeting about the proposed development of up to 99 homes at Horseshoe Farm, Bicknacre (planning application 26/00896/OUT).

📅 Friday 18 September
⏰ 7.00pm
📍 Bicknacre Memorial Village Hall

Whether you support, oppose, or are undecided about the proposal, we want to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to:
• Hear more about the proposed development
• Ask questions
• Raise concerns
• Share your views and hear the views of others

Woodham Ferrers & Bicknacre Parish Council has formally objected to the application, but as a Parish Council we want to make sure all local residents have the opportunity to have their say.

We will be joined by our City Councillor and County Councillor. We will also hear from a resident of Horseshoe Farm about the potential impact on her home and the surrounding area.

Please come along and have your say. Everyone is welcome.

👉 Please share with your neighbours and local community groups.

If you wish to make a formal comment on planning application 26/00896/OUT, you should also submit your comments directly to Chelmsford City Council through its planning portal.

08/09/2026

🌳 Play in the Park – What a Success! 🎉

What a fantastic summer of fun! ☀️

We were delighted to see 102 children join us across our two Play in the Park sessions in July and August — with 70 children attending on 22nd July and 32 on 12th August. 🎈

It was wonderful to see so many local families enjoying the activities, making new friends and having fun in the park.

Across all the Play in the Park sessions this summer, over 6,100 children attended, which is a fantastic achievement!

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and helped make the sessions such a success. 💚

📸 We’ve attached a couple of photos from our sessions, with permission having been given for them to be shared.

We hope to see you all again next summer! 🌞

08/09/2026

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1)
Temporary Traffic Regulation Order of Workhouse Lane, Woodham Ferrers.

Please click on the following link https://one.network/?tm=GB150280503 to find details of the intended closure of Workhouse Lane, due to commence on 18th September 2026 for 4 days.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while Openreach undertakes pole replacement works.

04/09/2026

More information about the Horseshoe Farm public meeting — please click the link below.

03/09/2026

PUBLIC MEETING – PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO 99 HOMES AT BICKNACRE

Woodham Ferrers & Bicknacre Parish Council is holding a public meeting to discuss planning application 26/00896/OUT for up to 99 dwellings, including affordable housing, together with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage and a proposed vehicular access on land adjacent to Horseshoe Farm, Main Road, Bicknacre.

📅 Friday 18 September 2026
⏰ 7.00pm
📍 Bicknacre Memorial Village Hall

The meeting will give local residents an opportunity to hear more about the proposal, raise concerns and ask questions about the potential impact on Bicknacre.

We expect to be joined by a City Councillor and, subject to confirmation, a County Councillor.

We will also hear from the resident of Horseshoe Farm, whose home is immediately affected by the proposed development on the surrounding land. She will explain her concerns about the application and the potential impact of the development on her property and the surrounding area.

She has also commissioned a detailed report setting out the reasons why she believes the planning application should be refused, which she is happy to share.

There will be an opportunity for residents to ask questions and share their own views and concerns.

PLEASE COME ALONG AND HAVE YOUR SAY

If you wish to make a formal comment on planning application 26/00896/OUT, you should also submit your comments directly to Chelmsford City Council through its planning portal.

Everyone is welcome. Please share this post with your neighbours and local community groups.

25/08/2026

📢 PLANNING APPLICATION – EXTENSION TO CONSULTATION DEADLINE

The public consultation period for the following planning application has been extended to 25 September 2026.

📍 Land East of Horseshoe Farm, Main Road, Bicknacre, Chelmsford, Essex

🏠 Proposal: Outline planning application for the er****on of up to 99 dwellings, including affordable housing, together with public open space, landscaping, a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) and a vehicular access point. All matters are reserved except for access.

📋 Planning Reference: 26/00896/OUT

The extension gives local residents and members of the public additional time to view the application and submit comments or objections to Chelmsford City Council.

🗓️ New consultation deadline: 25 September 2026

If you wish to make your views known, please ensure your comments are submitted before the deadline.

🔗 View the application and submit comments:
https://publicaccess.chelmsford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=THHIR3BRIRF00&prevPage=inTray

Please share this post to help make sure local residents are aware of the extended deadline.

24/08/2026

A very thought-provoking video every young driver should watch. There really are no second chances.

There Are No Respawns: One Choice. One Life. You can reset a game. You cannot reset a life. Every time you get behind the wheel, you make a choice. One split-second decision can change everything. Our latest speed awareness campaign, There Are No Respawns, challenges young drivers across Essex to re...

12/08/2026

📢 PLANNING APPLICATION – LAND EAST OF HORSESHOE FARM, BICKNACRE

Residents may wish to be aware that a planning application has been submitted for a significant residential development on land east of Horseshoe Farm, Main Road, Bicknacre.

Planning reference: 26/00896/OUT

The application is for up to 99 dwellings, including affordable housing, together with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage (SuDS) and a vehicular access point.

This is an outline application, with all matters reserved except for access.

Given the scale of the proposal, we would strongly encourage residents to look at the application and supporting documents and, importantly, submit your own comments to Chelmsford City Council.

Whether you support the proposal, object to it, or simply have observations or concerns, please make your views known. Comments submitted by residents form an important part of the planning process.

When commenting, it is helpful to focus on planning considerations and explain clearly why you support or object to the proposal.

🔎 Search for 26/00896/OUT on Chelmsford City Council’s online planning portal to view the application and submit your comments or click the link below.

The Parish Council has also been consulted on the application and will consider its own response.

Please share this post with other Bicknacre residents so that as many people as possible are aware of the application and have the opportunity to comment.

https://publicaccess.chelmsford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=THHIR3BRIRF00&prevPage=inTray