We take a look back at some of the highs and lows from a memorable year, with some of the biggest stories from July to December.

JULY:

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new football stadium and 104 homes in Heybridge were refused.

Heybridge Swifts Football Club and Bloor Homes planned to build a new stadium in Goldhanger Road and replace the existing Scraley Road pitches with 104 homes.

The proposals were unanimously rejected by Maldon District Council.

Chairman, Gary White said: “We feel that preventing a facility that would house approximately 20 youth teams, schools, a post 16 education centre, as well as a senior football club that has been part of the community since 1880, is a backward step.”

A ZEBRA crossing was completed in Burnham after more than two years of campaigning.

The crossing, near Ormiston Rivers Academy, was part funded by RES, developer and constrictor of Turncole Wind Farm.

The project, in Church Road, was repeatedly delayed, but finally finished in July.

The campaign was spearheaded by Lisa Drury, the late Ian Sisterson and Burnham Town Councillor Wendy Stamp.

AUGUST:

MALDON Police Station closed in August after a long campaign by residents to try and save the building.

Essex Police left the station, in West Square, its home for more than 100 years, and moved into the council offices in Princes Road.

The purpose built West Square station was put up for sale by Essex Police shortly afterwards.

Maldon Police Station was the last remaining station in the district, Southminster and Burnham having already closed.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, assured residents they would receive better policing following the move.

A RAM raid at Mayland led police on a 12 mile car chase.

The Nisa Local Store, in Imperial Avenue, was targeted by burglars who used a Land Rover Discovery to ram the front of the store before taking the cash machine.

They made off in a black Audi Q5.

The car was spotted in South Woodham Ferrers before it sped off.

It was abandoned in Heybridge in the early hours of the following morning.

SEPTEMBER:

DREAMS of a new state-of-the-art health centre were left in tatters in September after it emerged the CCG were looking to replace hospital beds with a Home First scheme.

The belief had been that Maldon’s St Peter’s Hospital, in Spital Road, would be replaced by a health hub. However a consultation to reduce the hospital further was announced instead.

A lack of back up plan surprised patient representatives in Maldon.

David Wilkin, Chair of Longfield Medical centre Patient Participation Group, said: “This means the home first strategy will be deemed to be a success even if it is a complete failure.”

BURNHAM’S Neighbourhood Plan was unanimously approved after more than four years in the making.

It was officially made by Maldon District Council after a referendum in the town saw 1,432 people vote in favour of the plans compared to 204 against.

Councillor Ron Pratt said: “It wasn’t without difficulty, but the support that the residents have shown has been wonderful.”

OCTOBER:

DREAMS of a new state-of-the-art health centre were left in tatters in September after it emerged the CCG were looking to replace hospital beds with a Home First scheme.

The belief had been that Maldon’s St Peter’s Hospital, in Spital Road, would be replaced by a health hub. However a consultation to reduce the hospital further was announced instead.

A lack of back up plan surprised patient representatives in Maldon.

David Wilkin, Chair of Longfield Medical centre Patient Participation Group, said: “This means the home first strategy will be deemed to be a success even if it is a complete failure.”

BURNHAM’S Neighbourhood Plan was unanimously approved after more than four years in the making.

It was officially made by Maldon District Council after a referendum in the town saw 1,432 people vote in favour of the plans compared to 204 against.

Councillor Ron Pratt said: “It wasn’t without difficulty, but the support that the residents have shown has been wonderful.”

NOVEMBER:

HEYBRIDGE Swifts gained national attention as they made it all the way to the first round proper of the FA Cup.

More than 300 fans made the eight hour round journey to watch the team take on Exeter City at St James Park.

A battling performance wasn’t enough to earn a victory against the League Two side, but the Swifts walked away with their heads held high following a 3-1 defeat.

A brace from Jayden Stockley put the hosts 2-0 up, before Sam Bantick pulled one back for the visitors.

The Swifts pressure for an equaliser, but a third from Exeter killed the game in the dying minutes.

SCHOOLS in Burnham were forced to close after a burst water main left thousands of homes without running water.

The pipe, in St Peter’s Field, burst leaving half of the town without water and forcing schools and businesses to close for two days.

The closure didn’t impact fundraising however, as many Ormiston pupils donated voluntarily to Children In Need before going home.

DECEMBER:

TRIBUTES were paid to Heybridge parish councillor Natalie Lewis-Hoyle after she was found dead aged just 28.

Miss Lewis-Hoyle, the daughter of Maldon district councillor Miriam Lewis, was described as a “great asset” to the community by parish council chairman Simon Burwood.

Her mother said: “It is with unbearable sadness that I have to announce the sudden death of my beautiful, much adored daughter Natalie.”

Essex Police are not treating her death as suspicious.

A DEVASTATING fire at Elmwood Equestrian Centre killed 12 horses.

Essex Police are treating the fire as suspicious and an investigation is ongoing.

Site owner, Anne Hull described the incident as “pure evil”.

Hero passer-by Charlie Mecoy managed to save nine horses from the blaze as he waited for fire crews to arrive.

The community pulled together following the tragedy with several fundraising events in the aftermath, and a Justgiving page which collected more than £20,000.