https://claudiabradley.journoportfolio.comRSS Feed for Claudia BradleyenSun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/topics/martyn-richardson/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/topics/martyn-richardson/https://www.facebook.com/reel/Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.facebook.com/reel/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26088998.pictures-show-unauthorised-traveller-site-near-felsted/The site in Willows Green, near Felsted, was ‘taken over’ after the district council offices closed on Friday for the holiday period. Travellers reportedly started moving into the site late on Friday evening with works continuing over the bank holiday weekend without permission. Lorries, concrete posts, fences and diggers drove over the green land, which is home to protected great-crested news and rare albino fallow deer. Site - Around 30 lorries and diggers were used to construct an...Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26088998.pictures-show-unauthorised-traveller-site-near-felsted/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/26006470.support-markets-bringing-life-high-streets/It’s why barbers, nail salons and the likes are often high street staples – they’re the only things we can’t shop for online. But town centre markets are bringing new life to high streets once again. In Colchester, the popularity of a market at Old Heath Recreation Ground, The Rec Community Market, was swiftly followed by a market at the freshly revamped St Nicholas Square in the city centre. Sundays on the Square has delighted the city by championing live music from independent local ar...Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/26006470.support-markets-bringing-life-high-streets/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25956160.private-funding-developer-proposing-1b-a120-scheme/As ever-louder calls for a new A120 continue, Peter Williams, the managing director of developer Williams Group, has put forward a proposal to build a new road with the support of investors. Williams Group has decades of experience working with international funding markets to unlock major businesses and housing development opportunities. The Williams proposal for the new A120 involves funding sources from UK-based institutional investors including pension funds, insurers and infrastruct...Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25956160.private-funding-developer-proposing-1b-a120-scheme/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26059764.mp-priti-patel-backs-essex-a120-road-upgrades-petition/The A120 is a key economic corridor for Essex but is widely known for accidents, congestion and delays, particularly on the single-carriageway stretch between Marks Tey and Braintree. Speaking to the Times, Ms Patel said the petition calling for upgrades is “shining a full beam” on the issue and will become even more important in the coming weeks and months. A feasibility study published in June 2018, which Ms Patel pushed for, found the A120 was the 10th most dangerous road nationally,...Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26059764.mp-priti-patel-backs-essex-a120-road-upgrades-petition/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26060270.mp-priti-patel-vows-fight-road-improvements-essex/Former home secretary and Witham MP Priti Patel argues the economic distribution of Essex demands investment in key road infrastructure. The county’s status as a net contributor to the treasury means Essex pays more in taxes and contributions than it receives back in government spending, benefits and public services. Ms Patel said: “On that basis alone, we should be getting a pound of financial flesh back to be investing in this part of Essex, and it has to be in our highways.” Impro...Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26060270.mp-priti-patel-vows-fight-road-improvements-essex/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26011468.cressing-overrun-hgvs-closure-braintree-road/The B1018 Braintree Road has been fully closed 24 hours a day since Friday, March 27, between the Millennium Way roundabout and the newly built Persimmon roundabout.   Residents say the village has been overrun with traffic, with HGVs, vans and thousands of motorists using the village as a rat run. People living nearby have received abuse from drivers when standing anxiously at the edge of their driveways to watch as vehicles mount the curb, coming dangerously close to their homes. L...Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/26011468.cressing-overrun-hgvs-closure-braintree-road/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25998416.braintree-council-leader-failure-upgrade-a120/Braintree Council leader Graham Butland, 77, announced his plans to step down from the role last month ahead of local government reorganisation. When asked about his 22 years as council leader, Mr Butland said his biggest failure was not seeing the A120 upgraded. Speaking to the Times, he said: “We haven’t got the A120 done. Biggest failure. “We’ve got this nice dual carriageway from the M11 to what I call the biggest free car park in Essex – Galley’s Corner.” Upgrades - Braintre...Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25998416.braintree-council-leader-failure-upgrade-a120/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/26005660.live-updates-reported-stabbing-colchester/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/26005660.live-updates-reported-stabbing-colchester/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25990640.braintree-residents-say-a120-desperately-needs-upgrades/Last month, the Department for Transport published its road investment strategy, which sets out funding for road schemes for the next five years. The stretch of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey was earmarked for widening in 2017, but plans had already been pushed back in 2022. The document did not include any major upgrades for the A120, which Braintree Council said is “disappointing” and Witham MP Priti Patel said is a “betrayal” of Essex. The Colchester Gazette and its sist...Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25990640.braintree-residents-say-a120-desperately-needs-upgrades/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25997545.council-leader-talks-living-stage-4-prostate-cancer/As he prepares to retire from his role ahead of local government reorganisation, Graham is continuing to battle and live with prostate cancer. The 77-year-old was on a cruise in August 2023 when he first experienced pain in his right buttock going down his leg, which he originally thought was sciatica. He noticed he was visiting the bathroom more frequently in the night, so he soon went to the doctors and had a blood test. In November that year, he and his wife were halfway to Scotla...Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25997545.council-leader-talks-living-stage-4-prostate-cancer/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25974284.mps-react-netflixs-louis-theroux-manosphere/It aired almost a year to the day that Netflix’s ground-breaking drama ‘Adolescence’ took the world by storm, reigniting conversations and fuelling debates online. What’s undeniable is a clear link between the two programmes, where each informs the other. The manosphere is a series of online communities promoting misogyny and toxic masculinity; Owen Cooper’s performance as Jamie Miller, the anger and confusion of teens, and the death of a 13-year-old schoolgirl is what has happened when thos...Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25974284.mps-react-netflixs-louis-theroux-manosphere/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25763692.james-cleverly-backs-a120-petition-calls-upgrade/Since September, Essex residents from Stansted to Harwich and everywhere in between have shared their experience of the A120 for the Gazette's 'A120:RoadtoSafety' campaign. Residents have complained of heavy congestion at Galley’s Corner in Braintree; the impact of increasing development in the area, which has not been matched by infrastructure upgrades; and the devastating outcomes of high-risk road features – such as the Earls Colne crossing near Coggeshall, which was the site of 10 fatal...Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25763692.james-cleverly-backs-a120-petition-calls-upgrade/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25929057.vine-inn-village-pub-set-become-community-gem/To Teal Smith, 30, and her fiancé Mike Carley, 33, who are moving back to the area from the Isle of Wight with their 15-month-old son Lockie, taking over the pub feels like something of a homecoming. Teal’s parents, Rob and Zoe Smith, have owned the pub for around 10 years. In recent years, it’s been a popular venue for private hire and events. Teal worked behind the bar herself before she moved to the Isle of Wright to work in the hospitality industry, where she met her fiancé. Pub...Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25929057.vine-inn-village-pub-set-become-community-gem/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25910294.woman-flew-dubai-yesterday-wants-share-reality/After flying from Stansted Airport first to Turkey, then onto Dubai on February 27, Colchester resident Karen Rowles, 53, was originally due to fly home with her friend this Friday, March 6. But when the conflict broke out between the US, Israel and Iran the day after they landed, their plans to return home were thrown into doubt. Karen and her friend managed to get out on a different flight and landed back in the UK on Wednesday evening. Since war broke out, it’s believed around 94,...Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25910294.woman-flew-dubai-yesterday-wants-share-reality/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25892895.woman-petrified-home-kitchen-burst-flames/In October, Danielle Harding, 36, was at home in Humber Road in Witham when her kitchen burst into flames. Fire services were called and she was left with burn wounds, no clothes, no electrics, and damage to her home. She says the fire service confirmed the blaze was caused by faulty electrics in the kitchen. Eastlight Community Homes, who own the property, offered her a hotel, but Danielle felt she couldn’t leave her beloved 23 rescue chickens in her garden and two dogs. Damage...Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25892895.woman-petrified-home-kitchen-burst-flames/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25789514.a120-residents-say-houses-shake-passing-hgvs/Residents along the Braintree to Marks Tey route have complained of increased traffic, road features which increase risk, and the 400 HGVs a day for the notorious Rivenhall Incinerator causing problems on the A120. Bradwell, with the incinerator on its doorstep and main street of Grade II listed cottages, is often brought to a standstill during rush out and when there are incidents on the A120. One village resident of 20 years said the whole village noticed the increase in traffic since...Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25789514.a120-residents-say-houses-shake-passing-hgvs/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25723687.man-exposed-sauna-child-mcdonalds/Yaroslav Fedotov, 45, of Harwich Road, Colchester, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court last Wednesday after admitting three charges of indecent exposure. The court heard Fedotov exposed himself to a six-year-old girl sitting with her father and infant brother in McDonald's, in Cowdray Avenue, in September 2024. Celestia John-Baptiste, prosecuting, said the incident was captured on CCTV. The father’s victim impact statement was heard in court, which detailed his daughter’s distr...Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25723687.man-exposed-sauna-child-mcdonalds/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25703754.remembering-braintrees-martyn-richardson-one-year/Martyn Richardson, 27, went missing in Bocking in August last year. His body was found near the River Blackwater on November 16 of last year. An inquest held last month found he likely fell into a river while he tried to make his way back to a family party. Searches were held to find Martyn, who worked at McDonalds in Galley’s Corner, with Braintree's community coming together. Remembered - Martyn has been remembered by the community throughout this year (Image: Essex Police)...Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25703754.remembering-braintrees-martyn-richardson-one-year/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25542340.new-a120-add-2billion-economy-officials-say/The scheme, which currently proposes to build a new road between Galley’s Corner in Braintree and Kelvedon South at the A12, would bring a major upgrade to Essex. It would trigger 20,000 new jobs, a £350million benefit to freight traffic, journey time savings running to a value of approximately £1.2billion, and more than £2billion of value to our economy. Essex Highways predicts the scheme will reduce travel delays, underpin new housing and economic growth, and enable businesses to flour...Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25542340.new-a120-add-2billion-economy-officials-say/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25674475.live-person-hit-train-colchester-level-crossing-died/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25674475.live-person-hit-train-colchester-level-crossing-died/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25674475.live-person-hit-train-colchester-level-crossing-died/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25674475.live-person-hit-train-colchester-level-crossing-died/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25580182.live-essex-railway-lines-blocked-person-hit-train/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25580182.live-essex-railway-lines-blocked-person-hit-train/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25557102.a120-needs-major-dualling-upgrade-planning-expert-says/Councillor Gabrielle Spray is Braintree Council’s cabinet member for planning and the chair of the Local Plan subcommittee, which is currently drafting a new Local Plan for development in the district up to 2041. As part of our campaign to raise awareness of road safety on the A120 and lobbying the government to commit to the A120 dualling scheme, we spoke with Ms Spray about the impact of the road on planning and housing developments. Ms Spray said: “I cannot tell you how frustrating an...Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25557102.a120-needs-major-dualling-upgrade-planning-expert-says/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25377758.apply-blue-badge-decisions-delayed/Exclusive data obtained in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Essex County Council has showed from January 28 to July 14 – almost six months – the council received 23,905 applications for blue badges. Of these, 11,344 have been approved, 1,346 have been declined, and 11,215 are awaiting a decision – about 47 per cent. The FOI also found that in the past three months, the council received 11,992 applications, of which 6,583 (just more than half) were not approved. The council r...Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25377758.apply-blue-badge-decisions-delayed/https://www.harwichandmanningtreestandard.co.uk/news/25403637.firefighters-scene-fire-north-essex-village/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://www.harwichandmanningtreestandard.co.uk/news/25403637.firefighters-scene-fire-north-essex-village/https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/25396794.clacton-fire-updates-firefighters-remain-scene-refuge-set/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/25396794.clacton-fire-updates-firefighters-remain-scene-refuge-set/https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25353885.live-stansted-airport-affected-air-traffic-control-issue/As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need...Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/25353885.live-stansted-airport-affected-air-traffic-control-issue/https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25340939.motorbike-rider-pulled-wheelie-a120-fatal-crash/Sirus Botha, 20, died on April 16 after a crash in Coggeshall Road in Bradwell near the junction with Doghouse Road. Essex area coroner Michelle Brown formally concluded the inquest into Mr Botha’s death on Friday at the coroner’s court in Chelmsford. The court heard the 20-year-old was riding solo on his motorbike in the afternoon with a group of other bikers when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a lamppost. One of the bikers, whose gave a witness statement to the co...Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/25340939.motorbike-rider-pulled-wheelie-a120-fatal-crash/