HAIRDRESSER, businessman, oyster farmer, racing pigeon master – there is not much David John cannot put his name to.

But after over 20 years out of the hair industry, David has reclaimed the David John salon in Moulsham Street, which he opened in the 70s.

David, alongside his daughter Hayley, decided to buy his old business back after the lease ran out and return it to the splendour it once was, having been revamped in the style of Art Deco with a modern twist.

Champagne flowed in abundance at the launch party this week, which was attended by over 100 people and included special guest, Strictly Come Dancing beauty, Ola Jordan.

The team of 20 staff, specialise in both men and women's hair, from luxury cuts – which include a treatment and shampoo and conditioner to take home, to wedding hair and make-up.

But the salon has also been transformed into a one-stop beauty shop with two health and beauty companies, Phoenix and The Beauty Suite, taking over the second floor.

"I am 65, I should be retiring, but I have got no plans to do that. I'm excited about this challenge and I think my daughter will be a great success here," said David.

"We have a nice team already, we took all of the existing staff, as well as some new people.

"We also got a hotel designer to do the layout because I wanted to get the salon away from the normal look. There are heaps of salons down Moulsham Street but we are different."

David, who was born and bred in Suffolk, moved to Chelmsford after leaving school at 14.

It was his mum who suggested going into hairdressing to get a job, but David was not too convinced as he had thoughts about joining the Royal Navy.

But he admitted: "I went for my interview at Silhouettes, I looked down and all I could see was women and I thought – I'd quite like working here. That is how I fell into hairdressing."

David was one of the first outside students ever to train at the Vidal Sassoon academy.

He said: "I was very lucky I was asked to stay on a while longer and I worked nine months in salons across London, I would regularly see Twiggy and Lulu getting their hair done.

"I was just a little Suffolk lad, this was the first time I had been to London and I am hopping about Bond Street and Sloane Square meeting the biggest names in hairdressing."

David eventually made his way back to Chelmsford, when he decided he wanted to open his own salon. He began working out of premises on Widford Road while the David John salon, on Moulsham Street, was purpose-built in 1973.

But after years of successful trading, David admitted that he began to get "itchy feet" and opted for a career change for oyster farming.

"I love all aspects of farming as my dad was a farmer and I grew up on a farm," he said. "Did I get fed up of hairdressing? – no – but I just needed a change."

David recently began a project setting up the very first pigeon clinic in the county, in Colchester, with Dutch vet Henk Deweerd. He keeps racing pigeons, in high demand in China, selling for £250,000 each.

"I like to keep busy, but I also don't like to rush anything," he said. "That is why we have taken our time with this launch, although we have been open for a few months. I want to leave the general hairdressing up to these young kids, as I do believe hair is a young person's game."

Daughter Hayley Wrattern, 35, said: "I have learnt a lot of things about the hair industry already.

"I was in recruitment before, so hairdressing is like a very different world, but I have worked hard for the salon and I want this to be as big as it can be.

"I remember coming here and sweeping up the hairs with a broom bigger than me, thinking I was doing a really good job. There are many happy memories here, the place was always buzzing and that is what we will return to.

"I was adamant that we were going to keep the name David John, because everybody knows the name and plus it is my dad – now we're back and it's got to stay."

PLANNERS have recommended refusing permission for a new superstore in Braintree.

District council officers say that a proposed 4,765sq m Sainsbury's supermarket on Broomhills Industrial Estate should be rejected because it would take shoppers away from the town centre.

Morrisons also objected on the grounds that the store would divert trade from their store in George Yard.

Julie Jesse, 65, of nearby Nayling Road, said: "We are obviously pleased with that outcome, although Sainsbury's are not going to let it lie.

"That's our worry really, that these huge companies go to appeal, and we have seen Tesco do the same. The council have to roll over because they can't be seen to be using taxpayers' money to fight in the courts.

"It leaves us in the position where we go through all this rigmarole and they just slide it through – but we are optimistic and hopeful."

Originally submitted in July 2011, Sainsbury's have faced a barrage of objections, but many others are in favour of the plans, which include space for more than 500 cars.

As well as creating a petition in support of the plans, dozens of other residents believe that the regeneration of the area would be a positive move for the town.

A decision will be made at a planning meeting at the Braintree District Council offices in Causeway House on April 19 at 7.15pm.

AN INNOCENT man spent 18 weeks in Spanish prisons, was separated from his family for nine months, and waited seven years for justice to be served after being wrongly accused of killing a tourist nearly two decades ago.

Father-of-two Darren Sapstead was cleared on Thursday of pushing a young holidaymaker to his death over the side of a pleasure boat in Tenerife 17 years ago.

Briton Garry Walton, 21, drowned after falling from a booze cruise off the coast of the island in November 1996, near the resort of Playa De Las Americas – an incident originally written off as an accident.

But in 2004 the 38-year-old was arrested by Interpol at his home in South Woodham Ferrers and charged with murder.

He spent six weeks in five mainland Spanish prisons, was locked up in Tenerife for three months, and was forced to live on the island for nine months on licence.

And the kitchen fitter even had to surrender himself to an Essex Police station every fortnight for seven years when he was eventually allowed to return home

"It has been absolutely horrendous," he told the Chronicle.

"You keep telling yourself, 'it's only temporary – we'll get through it' but it's been going on so long. I can't believe it's over."

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A MAN was stabbed in the back in a "cowardly attack" outside a Chelmsford nightclub early on Sunday.

The victim had been celebrating a friend's birthday at The Purple Lounge and was outside the Springfield Road venue when he was stabbed from behind.

Police say he suffered one deep wound to his lower back but is in a stable condition in hospital.

Chief Inspector Richard Phillibrown said: "This was an unusual and cowardly attack in the smoking area of the Purple Lounge where many people were socialising.

"I am sure someone either knows the person responsible or saw what happened. I urge them to come forward and assist our investigation."

A Marston's spokesman who own The Purple Lounge said: "The incident that took place Saturday evening outside the Purple Lounge is currently under investigation and is in the hands of the police."

Detectives investigating the stabbing want to hear from anyone who was in the smoking area of The Purple Lounge, at around 1am, and who may have information about the incident.

Anyone with information should contact detectives on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

THE importance of heritage in Billericay was highlighted by the large turnout that welcomed representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Several organisations took part in the event hosted by John Baron MP with Kate Brown of the Heritage Lottery Fund taking centre stage, and it turned out to be the highest attendance for groups expressing interests in lottery grants in South Essex.

Mr Baron said: "This was a good success, with more than 20 organisations expressing interest.

"My thanks go to Kate Brown and the HLF team for their hard work.

"The challenge now is to convert these expressions of interest into concrete project applications.

"The constituency has historically not done well when it comes to lottery funding, and we need to do more to try and put that right. But this was an encouraging start."

Kate Brown said: "This has been a great opportunity to highlight how heritage is important to everyone.

"I look forward to working with those groups who want to share their heritage with the wider community of Basildon.

"Anybody who would like more information about the Heritage Lottery Fund and how to apply should get in touch so we can talk further."

AFTER a disappointing defeat to title challengers Wightlink Raiders on Saturday night, the Chieftains returned to form against a poor Bracknell Hornets side on Sunday.

A hat-trick from player-coach Gary Clarke was more than enough to defeat Hornets 8-1.

Danny Hammond, Tom Castle, Michael Ranby, Cameron Bartlett and Tibor Schneider all netted alongside Clarke who picked up the man of the match award.

A late goal from Carl Thompson ruined the night for Ben Clements, who had otherwise had a perfect game and hadn't allowed any shot to pass him by.

It was a clinical display from the Chieftains who would no doubt have been disappointed on the trip back from the south coast on Saturday evening after slipping up 6-3 to an in-form Wightlink Raiders.

The Raiders went into the game knowing it was a win or bust game for them as they are the third part of the three-way title challenge, with the other team being Romford Raiders.

Wightlink were ranked lowest of the three going into the game and many expected them to play their usual style of 'in your face' ice hockey.

However, Jeremy Cornish led his men out in a disciplined and orderly fashion and it made for a thoroughly entertaining evening.

Two goals from Tribe and Smith, put the home side ahead before Hammond netted to bring the score back to 2-1.

Murray then scored to go 3-1 up and it looked like the Chieftains would be on the end of a big scoreline. However, Hammond then found the net again before Bartlett tied the game up at 3-3.

Robbie Brown made it 4-3 just before the second break and it was all to play for in the third.

Both sides threw everything they had at the other and a Cornish goal made it 5-3.

Clarke took the decision to pull Ryan Bainborough for an extra skater late on but it didn't pay off as Facey netted with seconds to go to kill off any hope of a comeback.

The weekend's results leave the Chieftains one point ahead of Wightlink and two ahead of Romford, with a game in hand on both of them.

This weekend sees Cardiff Devils come to town on Saturday evening for what is a must-win game for the Chieftains. Sunday sees the team head the short distance down the A12 to Romford for what is likely to be a 'make or break' game for the Raiders.

Defeat would leave them four points off the lead with the Chieftains having a game in hand.

With only four games left to play, it would mean the following Sunday's home game against Wightlink Raiders could well be the title-decider.

RESIDENTS fiercely opposed to the arrival of supermarket giant Tesco in their town centre are appealing to district councillors to reject the plans once and for all.

The application for a Tesco Express in Wantz Road, Maldon, will go before Maldon District Council on Wednesday and infuriated locals are hoping it will be blocked.

Margaret Murphy, of Wantz Road, said: "I think it's absolutely disgusting that they've put in the application at all.

"It's completely unnecessary, we already have adequate supermarkets and this road can't handle any more traffic – we just don't want it."

Posters opposed to the application, which would transform the closed down pub, The Cups, into a convenience store, have been appearing in residents' windows since the proposals were lodged in August last year.

Bob Wyness, 64, of Mill Road, has spearheaded the campaign against the plans.

He said: "It's simply not going to bring anything to the town, it's only going to distract shoppers from other outlets. If it puts Costcutter out of business we could even lose our post office again.

"Our main concern however is safety at the junction and people parking on both sides of the road creating greater traffic.

"Several young people cross at that junction and it's going to become more and more dangerous."

More than 55 people attended a Town Council meeting back in October 2012 to express their anger at the plans, where the application was recommended for rejection by councillors.

But the final decision rests with the planning committee at Maldon District Council who will meet next week.

Judy Lea, of the Maldon Society, said: "We would urge the committee members at the very least to postpone a decision until the road safety issue can be looked at in far more detail. It is deplorable that Highways made no comment on this.

"This is a corner location, on a crossroads, with schools nearby. Now that traffic is one way, residents have also noticed the traffic is travelling faster.

"Some members recall a previous fatal accident and others with heavy goods driving experience have examined the altered layout and consider the lorries will have extreme difficulty coping.

"The residents themselves want housing, not shops that duplicate existing fragile provision at the adjacent Co-op and the length of the nearby High Street.

"We would therefore urge members to give the lead in asking officers to work with the current owner to enable him to forego Tesco's doubtless lucrative offer and come forward with an acceptable housing scheme, which should also bring a handsome return.

"If all else fails, Maldon residents can vote with their feet and make sure they sustain the overall choice of suppliers by maintaining custom at the Co-op and other existing shops, so ensuring this particular Tesco doesn't become profitable. Tesco is not invincible."

Tesco did not respond to the Chronicle's request for a comment.

A MAN in Wickford has been robbed shortly after taking money out of a cash machine.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 13, at around 8:20 am when the 41 year old man from Wickford was riding a bike along a pathway near Salcott Crescent.

Two men stopped him, one of which was holding a hammer, and they stole cash from his pocket.

One man was Asian and the other was white. The Asian man was aged 20-40, wearing a blue Lonsdale hoody, grey jogging bottoms and a grey basketball cap and the other was wearing a blue hoody.

Any witnesses or anyone that was in the area at the time is asked to contact Dc Ian Burgess at CID at Basildon on 101.

ESSEX Leopards continued their push for the runners-up spot in EBL Division One with a victory against Leeds Carnegie on Sunday.

Robert Youngblood's team produced an excellent performance in the battle between the national trophy and cup holders.

A stunning third period, during which Ish Fontaine poured in three, three-pointers proved the difference between Leopards and second-placed Carnegie as they outscored the visitors 23-11.

Simon Cummings led the Leopards' scoring for a fourth straight game with 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Greg Hernandez had a massive 21-point, 17 rebound double-double.

On his first start for the Big Cats, Fontaine finished with five three-pointers on the way to 19 points, while Carl Josey added nine points and four assists.

It was a depleted Leopards team, with captain Taner Adu seemingly out for the rest of the season with injury, as well as Rowell Graham and Dan Dunscombe ill. But the Big Cats dug deep for their seventh win in nine games.

Hernandez opened the scoring, but Robert Marsden replied to set the tone for the first half.

Fontaine gave Leopards their biggest lead of the first period with a three to put them 12-7 up after three minutes.

Leeds replied with an 11-4 tear capped by Bryan Modeski's shot before Cummings provided the assist for Hernandez to tie the score at 16 going into the first break.

Dave Ajumobi opened the second period with a three-point play for the visitors, and Leopards trailed by as many as four in the opening three minutes of the quarter before Josey tied things after grabbing an Hernandez miss. Cummings sent the Big Cats into half-time on a high as he beat the buzzer with a three-pointer to give them a 40-38 lead.

Youngblood opened the scoring with a pair at the free-throw line, and the Leopards player-coach made it a six point lead with 7:21 on the clock with a rare three-pointer.

But it was Fontaine who blew the game open, hitting three of four three-pointers in a two-minute spell to give Leopards a double-digit lead. The lead peaked at 15 when Josey hit a trey as Leopards went into the final break with a 63-49 lead.

Marsden, who led Leeds with 19 points, opened the final period scoring, but the Leopards' lead never dipped into single figures. When Hernandez made it 73-57 with five minutes remaining, it became clear that Leeds' only hope was to lose by less than six and clinch the head-to-head decider.

A DISABLED volunteer took the trip of a lifetime to collect his MBE from Buckingham Palace.

Wheelchair-bound Allan Millam, 71, from Braintree has spent his working life supporting the community and helping those in need.

Last month, he made the journey from Braintree to Buckingham Palace, where he was awarded a Members of the Order of the British Empire medal for his services to the community.

Mr Millam, who suffers from cerebral palsy, believes that his disability is what has spurred him on with his work over the years.

"I think having cerebral palsy is what inspired me. There are a lot of things that needed changing in society and I sort of used my disability to my advantage to get things done.

"Never in a billion years did I expect to be given an MBE. When I got the letter last November I had to keep picking it up and putting it back down again. I couldn't believe it," he said.

He was awarded the medal as a result of his work with Braintree Crossroads, a charity that provides support to unpaid carers and for his contribution to the Tabor Centre in Braintree, which provides respite care for their full time carers.

Mr Millam was also a councillor for the Braintree District for 35 years, a magistrate for twenty years, and is on the board of Greenfields Community Housing.

"I just like helping people really. You get the rewards from the people you meet," he said.

On February 20 Mr Millam made the journey to Buckingham Palace accompanied by his stepson Derek, who flew in from Australia for the occasion, his stepdaughter Julie and his sister Joan.

There, in the ballroom, it was HRH Prince Charles who presented him with an MBE.

"It was quite scary because you don't quite know what was going to happen," said Mr Millam.

"It was nerve-racking because Prince Charles presented it and you had to go up by yourself, but he was very nice. He said that I have been doing this work for a very long time and that he thought he was a busy man until he met me!

"My stepson said he thought he spoke to me for the longest but I thought it flew by."

But for Mr Millam, who lost his wife Barbara 15 years ago, the day was bittersweet.

"The only sad thing about it was that I really missed my wife not being there.

"She was very much into helping the community – she would have absolutely loved it," he said.

After the ceremony the Crossroads trustees held a meeting so that Mr Millam could show them his medal.

And now that Allan Millam MBE has been recognised for his work in the community, he is unlikely to be stopping any time soon.

"I will go whichever way life leads me but I will continue to do as much as I can for as long as I can."

A GREYHOUND left fighting for its life after running into a "concealed" barbed wire fence has survived its ordeal and is now on the road to recovery.

Bubbles, a black, nine-year-old rescue dog, was featured on the front page of the Brentwood Gazette on February 13.

She had been seriously injured while walking off the leash in Weald Country Park with owner Louise Wood on February 2.

The poorly pooch suffered eight deep cuts to her body and required more than 100 stitches at House and Jackson Vets in Blackmore.

She also had to have an operation on February 25 to remove the dead skin from her most serious wound.

Although she is still draped in bandages, Bubbles is now expected to make a full recovery.

Mrs Wood, 47, of Crow Green Road, Pilgrims Hatch, said: "Bubbles is bandaged up and has to go to the vets every two days, although all the wounds are starting to heal up except one, which is 5cm long and 4cm wide under her front legs.

"The skin died on this wound and the stitches split so the skin had to be cut away leaving just muscle – it looks disgusting."

She added: "The dressing and bandaging has to be changed frequently but the vet is hoping that it should be able to heal itself from the inside – but so far so good."

Mrs Wood, a secretary at Bentley St Paul's Primary School, said Bubbles is starting to get back to her usual self.

"I have noticed a massive improvement although she's still on bed rest and can only go out on the lead but she looks so much better."

She added: "Everyone who's heard has been concerned.

"We even had a visitor from across the road to check that she was ok. She knocked on my door to ask after Bubbles and had brought her some dog biscuits.

"She also told me that she had heard of another dog from Hatch Road, a spaniel, who had been cut by a barbed wire fence in Weald Park.

"This is the third I've heard of since Bubbles got hurt so it must be quite common."

Mrs Wood is grateful to House and Jackson Vets for saving Bubbles but still has concerns about the fence which injured her pet.

"I want to see the fence changed as it is so dangerous as it is," said Mrs Wood, who claims it was hidden by grass and leaves.

"It would be safer if it had two strips of barbed wire at a higher level instead of three.

"I'm not going to take Bubbles back to that area again."

She added: "The reaction from some people who have said that my dog should have been on a lead is unfair – she was only 10 feet away from me and she's not badly behaved.

"Everyone has been shocked at the sight of Bubbles' injuries – they are horrendous."

A spokesman from Essex County Council, which owns Weald Country Park, had previously said it would liaise with the neighbouring landowner to discuss the fence.

This week, an Essex County Council spokesperson said: "We sympathise with the dog owner following this distressing incident.

"We have written to the landowner explaining what has happened and offering to advise and assist in order to prevent this from happening again.

"We are awaiting a response from the landowner."

THE owner of Brentwood's Sugar Hut nightspot has quit TV's The Only Way Is Essex – and has vowed to focus on getting more locals back through the doors of his club.

Mick Norcross, a regular since the first series of TOWIE in 2010, this week said he feared the sheer number of arguments being filmed inside the club was starting to damage the Sugar Hut brand.

As a result, neither he, nor his club, will appear in any further episodes of the ITV2 show.

Mr Norcross, 49, added that the popularity of the venue with tourists had discouraged many of his local customers – punters that he would like to get back.

Explaining his decision to quit TOWIE, Mr Norcross told the Gazette: "When the show filmed in the Sugar Hut, nine times out of ten there would be a big argument and that became more and more of a problem for me because the show is supposed to be about real life.

"People believe that the rows are real but they are staged.

"I don't want the club to be portrayed this way to the public and I found that the Sugar Hut as a brand was becoming damaged.

"I wanted to show champagne popping and people having fun, not rows.

"Getting people in to have a row isn't great TV."

Mr Norcross insists he is not bitter about his departure from the show and said he hopes it continues for the foreseeable future.

"It is going to run for the whole of this year and I hope it continues for a long time, I really do," he said.

"I believe it has probably got another couple of years in it yet."

He added: "I am not bitter towards it at all, it was just the right time for me to go."

As for his son and former co-star Kirk, Mr Norcross said: "He will be staying with TOWIE for the time being."

Turning to the future of his club, he said: "Local people have definitely avoided the venue since we've been on the TV because they don't particularly want to meet those people who are travelling from all over the country.

"I think it's fair to say we would like to get more of a balance between the locals and other visitors than what we have at the moment.

"We've got a big night that Kirk is putting on for the locals on Maundy Thursday and we've got a loyalty card which they can get too."

Mr Norcross added: "I have always respected the locals and what they have done for the business."

An ITV spokesman simply said: "There are no current plans to film with Mick or in the Sugar Hut."

BENEATH the village of Rettendon's idyllic veneer lies a tale of High Court writs, allegations of council misconduct, police investigations and the first contested parish by-election in a generation.

A dispute over planning has split the 600-person settlement and generated accusations of corruption, extramarital affairs and cronyism.

The ill-will runs so deep that angry residents have even started a rival publication to the parish council newsletter.

"We are a village at war," said parish councillor Keith Marshall.

The quarrel centres on plans by a multi-millionaire to build a riding centre on the outskirts of Rettendon, a quiet village eight miles south of Chelmsford.

Philanthropist David Bishop wants to spend £500,000 of his own money to transform a derelict pub into an equestrian centre, shops and a restaurant – and then hand the business over to a charity.

But plans to redevelop the Wheatsheaf, in Main Road, were rejected by Chelmsford City Council planning bosses last summer. They were also rejected by Rettendon Parish Council, despite apparent initial support for the scheme.

The fallout has seen the village split into two groups – those opposing the development and those supporting it.

In the midst of the battle, two parish councillors are being investigated by Chelmsford City Council for alleged misconduct.

The police have looked into claims that signatures on a planning petition – handed to authority bosses the day of the application decision – against the development were forged.

And one parish councillor is being dragged through the High Court after allegedly spreading rumours that Mr Bishop, 62, was having an affair with the vice-chairman of the parish council, something both strongly deny.

"I would love things to go back to the way they were," said resident Isobel Greenshields, 69, a retired school teacher who has lived in Rettendon for 33 years.

"What's wrong with this village is not the buildings but the people. It's like something out of Midsomer Murders.

"It's very, very sad and I pray we can all reunite because I feel I just don't know anyone here any more."

The supporters of the Wheatsheaf plans are backed by the Rettendon Focus Group, which, among other things, "monitors the processes and actions of the parish council and ensure their decisions accurately reflect the requirements of the residents".

It was set up after some residents became disillusioned with the parish council's actions. Its mouthpiece, The Village Voice newsletter, was first printed in August 2012 with the aim of "giving residents their voice back".

On the other side, locals have rallied around two parish councillors – Roy Hart and Keith Marshall – who own businesses in the area.

Mr Bishop is suing Councillor Marshall for defamation, in a case expected to be heard at the High Court in the coming months.

He accuses the 66-year-old, who owns Whitegates Farm in South Hanningfield Road, of starting rumours that he has had an affair with the vice-chairman of the parish council, Mrs Pat Prebble.

She said: "I'm really upset by it all and I feel on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"It's horrible. It's all got so personal and involved the whole village. It is such a shame."

Meanwhile, Cllr Hart and Councillor Marshall are being investigated by the city council for alleged misconduct in their roles as parish councillors.

The charges relate to nine potential breaches of the Councillors' Code of Conduct and surround the pair's objection to Mr Bishop's development.

A letter seen by the Chronicle to Barry Summerfield, the parish clerk in Rettendon, from Ann Coronel, the legal and democratic services manager and monitoring office at Chelmsford City Council, spelled out the case against the pair.

It included their "clear opposition" to the Wheatsheaf plans, their "past behaviour" in relation to the submission, and, given both men own businesses nearby, an apparent conflict of interest. She added: "In particular that Cllr Marshall had been instrumental organising a petition opposing application."

In addition, the Chronicle has learnt that the police have investigated claims that signatures on the petition – which hung on Councillor Marshall's farm shop wall – were forged.

This is an allegation Councillor Marshall says is "complete rubbish".

In a further twist, it has emerged that two Chelmsford city councillors, who are also parish councillors in Rettendon, have not attended a parish meeting for at least six months.

Ray Ride and Lance Millane were accused by parish councillors Mr Hart, Mr Marshall and Mrs Kathryn Clark, together with a Rettendon resident, Mr Chris Cheater, of dishonesty.

In an e-mail read at October's parish council meeting, they said the accusations were "completely groundless and scurrilous" and demanded an apology.

"Until this serious matter is resolved to our satisfaction our attendance at Rettendon Parish Council is unfortunately held in abeyance," Mr Ride wrote.

Councillor Millane told the Chronicle this week it was difficult to comment on ongoing investigations but said: "We are not happy about it."

All eyes are now on a parish by-election in April, the first time that a vacancy on the council has been contested for as long as anyone can remember.

It has been brought about after Councillor Bob Sankey stepped down late last year and will cost the parish council £1,860, out of a total cost of £2,480.

Normally, a new member would be co-opted on to the council but 14 voters requested an election to fill the vacancy. It is thought Ms Glenys Jones – backed by the Focus Group – will take on Chris Cheater.

"Once she is elected we hope she be an alternative voice on the council," said Scott Wilson, the current editor of The Village Voice. "She is someone who is prepared to speak up for the residents of Rettendon."

Ron Fallows, chairman of the parish council, said: "I share people's concerns about the village becoming a divided community – I hope harmony will prevail."

Jill Mayhew, 62, who has lived in Rettendon all her life, said many residents have been reduced to tears by the controversy. She said: "It's very upsetting.

"A village is meant to have the odd tiff but I've never seen anything like this before. This is my childhood village but I don't think I want to live here any more."

A Chelmsford City Council spokesman said: "It's not our job to mediate between the various groups. Our position is to investigate the complaints made against councillors.

"As there is an ongoing investigation we do not wish to make a further statement."

THE developers behind plans for one of Britain's biggest solar power parks in the Essex countryside have rejected allegations that they failed to consult with the community.

The bosses at Lightsource, which wants to build a 35-hectare solar development outside the village of Little Braxted, say they made every effort to contact people in the community ahead of a public consultation but hardly anyone turned up.

Conor McGuigan, the company's business development director, said: "It was actually very disappointing when we had such poor attendance at a public consultation roadshow last November.

"We had contacted 57 residents as well as councillors, but hardly anyone turned up to the event, so to be criticised at our meeting last week is difficult when we made a real effort.

"There was one oversight with a resident in Wickham Bishops who does have a view of the park but we have since made amendments to address that.

"We fully intend to keep on engaging with residents. We want a good relationship with them when the site may be there for 25 to 30 years."

At the heated meeting on Wednesday, March 6, representatives from the company faced a crowd of angry villagers who branded the plans "disingenuous" and a "sham". Resident Lorna Setter claimed that without her concerted effort to inform people of the plans, no-one would have been aware of the project's true scale.

However, a list of invitees to a consultation event on November 2 last year included Wickham Bishops district councillor, Henry Bass, but he did not attend despite voting to recommend refusal at last week's meeting.

When contacted by the Chronicle, Cllr Bass said he did not recall receiving an invitation.

Mr McGuigan said: "It was a tense and fraught meeting from what I can gather, and I had two rather pale faces return to the office. There are always some people who have a reflex reaction but we do also understand how personal developments such as these can be. They have to be located somewhere but unfortunately most people don't want them in their back yard.

"However, to date, we have been successful in negotiating with those affected, and have a good relationship with those living near our solar parks. That's always the aim."

The business development director claims that out of 54 applications lodged by the company, only one has been subject to refusal and this is as a result of a rigorous process of selection.

He said: "We look at the impact on visual landscape, capacity on the National Grid and the views from nearby properties.

"Placing an application with the council can cost thousands of pounds and we won't bother if we believe it will be rejected.

"We absolutely want to have a good relationship with our neighbours," he added.

The proposed site at Little Braxted, in an area bordering Witham, will include 60,000 solar panels with a planned output of 15 megawatts – enough to power more than 4,000 homes.

However, amendments have already been made to the plans to reduce the impact on residents in neighbouring communities.

Lightsource has increased the distance between the panels and the site boundary to 30 metres, the height of the panels will not exceed 1.6 metres and a significant planting plan will minimise any affect upon nearby Whetmead Nature reserve.

Nick Boyle, the company's CEO, said: "It has been made very clear in recent times that solar is a key component in the UK's drive towards its renewable energy targets.

"Renewable energy sources and schemes such as this to be implemented in Little Braxted need to become an integral part of our domestic power output if we are to achieve the Government's target of 15 per cent of the UK's electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2020."

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STUART SEARLE is hoping his return can coincide with a strong run of form to push Chelmsford City into the play-offs.

The goalkeeper returned to the first-team fray at Staines last week after a month out with a leg injury.

And although he is glad to be back, he has praised manager Glenn Pennyfather for using his contacts to ensure he didn't have to be rushed back ahead of schedule.

In the wake of Searle's injury – suffered against Hayes & Yeading at the start of February – Pennyfather brought in Reece Charles-Cook from Arsenal and then, when Charles-Cook was himself injured, Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton arrived to fill the gap.

And Searle told the Chronicle: "The gaffer used his contacts well to get goalkeepers in.

"It's good from my point of view that I wasn't missed as much as I was last year and I wasn't back into the frame quicker than I should have been, so that's credit to the manager.

"He may well have wanted to put me back in, but those sorts of injuries aren't be messed around with.

"Fortunately I've come out of it having missed seven games and it could have been a whole lot more, so I count myself lucky and we've not really suffered from it either."

Searle, who works as a goalkeeping coach, also had praise for youngster Tom Warren.

"I felt a little bit sorry for young Tom," he added.

"Obviously I'm fairly close with him but the gaffer's obviously thought that Tom isn't ready yet.

"I think he's a good prospect. "With my day job being a goalkeeping coach I hope I've been able to give Tom the right information, the right advice with regards to what's best for him."

Searle was set to keep for last night's scheduled and hastily-rearranged clash with AFC Hornchurch, and he is hoping to soon be back to his very best.

He added: "It's obviously difficult coming back after a period of time out.

"I've come straight back into the lion's den a bit – it was nice to be back for the game at Staines but I'm hoping it's not going to take too long to get back to the pace of games and pick up my goalkeeping fitness again.

"It's important now that we get our heads down and strive to reach the play-offs.

"We're in one of the play-off positions already, we've had quite a consistent season.

"We have lost games maybe we shouldn't have, we know that, we've conceded some poor goals.

"We're certainly in a stronger position than we were last season, and we've got one of the best squads of players in the division, we've certainly got the ability to go and produce results.

"If you look at the games with Hereford United and Colchester United, we have proved that we can do that in a one-off situation."

AN INDUSTRY award for Greater Anglia has left some rail users "gobsmacked".

Franchise owner Abellio was named 'Train Operator of the Year' at the annual Rail Business Awards for 2012 for punctuality, customer service and station improvements – despite being named the second worst in the country in a poll of 7,500 passengers last month.

The survey by consumer watchdog Which? revealed just 42 per cent of customers were satisfied behind only the First Capital Connect Bedford to Brighton franchise, which scored just 40 per cent.

So the news has puzzled some of its regular users who cannot understand how the judges reached their decision.

David Bigg, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users, said: "I'm in a state of total disbelief, I just can't understand it. Their peers may decide they deserve this award but I can assure them my members, their customers, are not happy bunnies."

According to data collected by the group, which has 400 members, there were 16 major incidents affecting the line between Braintree, Witham and Chelmsford in January alone, including a power cut, disruption from engineering works and four signal failures.

"Our research also appears to show staff numbers have been reduced while facilities are poor, with waiting rooms closed and a lack of heating," David added.

"At the moment there are still several issues that Greater Anglia needs to address. I have no idea how they've managed to get this award for their performance in 2012."

However, Greater Anglia's Dutch owners Abellio say that the accolade follows a 92 per cent satisfaction rate among customers, the highest level for East Anglian franchise for 12 years.

Ruud Haket, managing director of Greater Anglia, said: "I am delighted that barely a year into our short franchise, we have received this independent endorsement of our achievements.

"To be bracketed amongst the leading UK train companies at such an early stage is a tribute to the commitment and dedication of our employees."

Greater Anglia also claims that the Which? survey of last month is far less representative than a recent National Passenger Survey which showed it had one of the most improved performances.

However, one dissatisfied customer is James Thomas, featured in the Chronicle last week, a commuter who is so fed up with the service from Chelmsford to his workplace in Brentwood that he has bought a car instead. The 30-year-old said: "I just find the news about the award extraordinary.

"However, it's important to remember that it wasn't decided by the customers, it's been chosen by its peers."

Stockport boss Darije Kalezic will welcome new signings Kieran Charnock and Danny Schofield into his squad for Saturday's clash with Braintree.

Rotherham winger Schofield and Fleetwood defender Charnock moved to Edgeley Park on loan until the end of the season earlier this week and are available to make their debuts against the Iron.

However, Kalezic could opt to leave the pair on the bench and instead stick with the same XI that ended the Hatters' six-game losing streak against Barrow on Tuesday.

Striker Danny Hattersley missed the 2-0 victory in midweek through illness and is expected to be absent once again.

Victory for Kalezic's men would see them leapfrog Braintree as they look to continue their charge up the table.

Braintree boss Alan Devonshire will be without defender Matt Paine.

The 25-year-old will serve the second of a three-match ban after he saw red for violent conduct in the 2-0 victory over Luton on February 26.

Paine would have served his final game against Dartford in midweek but that clash, along with last Saturday's trip to Nuneaton, were both postponed.

Experienced goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt could return to the squad following a long-term ankle injury, providing competition for Nathan McDonald, who has been Devonshire's first-choice stopper in Naisbitt's absence.

Bradley Quinton has suffered a setback in his recovery from the knee injury that has kept him out since November. The midfielder looks set to be out for a further two weeks.