Bishop's Stortford Independent

19/10/2025

FESTIVE FUN DAY 2025!! FREE famly-friendly community event, courtesy of the Bishop's Stortford Business Improvement District (BID) and town centre businesses.

Our Christmas launch event is back for the third year. Kick off the festive season on Sunday 16th November, 12-4pm.

Expect music and dancing from local groups in Market Square with Somewhere 2 Sing opening the event at midday. There will also be free face painting, hot roasted chestnuts, festive characters and giveaways and Christmas cheer by the bucket load across the town centre.

Businesses will throw open their doors – pop in and find out what they have on offer this festive season, from special promotions to private hire, themed menus, events and new stock perfect for the gifting season ahead.

The BID is proud to sponsor the Christmas tree in Market Square. The tree lights switch on will take place at 3.45pm, thanks to a special guest from this year's pantomime at South Mill Arts.

Watch this space for more details over the next four weeks, including performance times and locations for the fun and entertainment.

Aga's Fantasy Faces Dolly Designs Youth Create Does Parties South Mill Arts Somewhere 2 Sing Rock Choir Bishop's Stortford Musical Theatre Company - BSMTC Forte Dance & Performing Arts Studio Bishop's Stortford Tourist Information Centre Bishop's Stortford Independent

19/10/2025

COMPETITION - WIN WIN WIN!

3️⃣ family tickets to see Fairy Tale Courtroom, a fun and funny piece of theatre, at Northgate Primary School next weekend (daytime only) featuring Big Bad Wolf and Wicked Witch (aka Evil Queen) on trial - and the audience is the jury!

❓COMPETITION QUESTION ❓

What is the missing word from each of these fairy-tale “witnesses”?

🐷 Three ****** Pigs
❤️ ****** Red Riding Hood

📧 Email your answer to [email protected], mark the subject line “Fairy Tale Courtroom” - and please state which of the 3 performances you would like to see:

🐺 Sat 25 Oct 2.30pm
🧙‍♀️ Sun 26 Oct 11.30am
🐺 Sun 26 Oct 2.30pm

🎟️ A family ticket is 2 adults and 2 children OR 1 adult and 3 children

COMPETITION CLOSES WED 22 OCT, 6PM

Read about the show here… https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/whats-on/fairy-tale-courtroom-audiences-the-jury-as-wolf-and-witch-s-Water Lane Theatre Companyre Company

18/10/2025

Please tell us a little bit about your business or the company/individual you are nominating.

18/10/2025

“No parent should be forced to choose between financial survival and being at their child’s bedside"

North East Herts MP Chris Hinchliff is leading a cross-party call for urgent support for parents of seriously ill children | READ MORE AT https://bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/north-east-herts-mp-campaigns-for-government-action-to-suppo-9437691/

18/10/2025

In a new monthly service, we list every planning application validated by Uttlesford District Council relating to Stansted Mountfitchet in the previous month | READ MORE https://bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/every-planning-application-for-stansted-in-september-9435841/

18/10/2025

Restrictions to end Stansted Airport-related ‘slalom parking’ along Parsonage Road in Takeley are imminent, says Essex County Council

READ MORE https://bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/parking-restrictions-set-to-end-slalom-on-takeley-s-parson-9438080/

18/10/2025

Support Bishop's Stortford Food Bank The Welbeloved Club and Holy Trinity Night Shelter and Community Outreach when you shop at Waitrose

👀🟢🟢🟢Look out for the Green Token slots in Waitrose!
We are over the moon to be one of their nominated charities this month along with 2 other wonderful local charities-The Wellbeloved Club and the Holy Trinity Night Shelter. Drop a token into your choice of slot and everybody wins! Once the green tokens have been counted at the end of December, the charity with the most tokens will receive £1500, while second and third places will receive £1000 and £500! Thank you Waitrose! 🟢🟢🟢

18/10/2025

Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspectors return to monitor progress after SEND ‘systemic failings’ in Hertfordshire | READ MORE https://bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/inspectors-return-to-monitor-improvements-in-send-systemic-9438052/

18/10/2025

A shocking story from our national news feed: Over 25,000 parking fines were given to staff working for just 17 NHS trusts in 2024 - while at work

READ MORE AT https://bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/national/outrage-over-parking-fines-for-nhs-workers-157126/

18/10/2025

18/10/2025

"Using the hard shoulder to avoid traffic is not only selfish—it’s illegal. The Highway Code clearly states the hard shoulder must not be used for overtaking or avoiding congestion. Offenders can face fines, penalty points, and prosecution for driving without due care and attention."

Recently, while our officers were attending to a road traffic collision on the and ensuring the safety of everyone involved, several drivers chose to dangerously bypass the queue by driving along the hard shoulder. This reckless behaviour not only endangered lives but also obstructed emergency services working at the scene.

Thanks to the support of the National Police Air Service (NPAS), aerial footage was captured showing multiple vehicles illegally using the hard shoulder. The footage zooms in on registration plates, allowing us to identify the owners of the vehicles involved. All these individuals will be notified and reported for prosecution for driving without due care and attention.

18/10/2025

Trees doing their autumn thing in Stortford… which tree in town stops you in your tracks? Let’s see your pics please 🙏