Panfield Parish Council

20/08/2026

The tired old bench at ‘Sunset Green’ on Hall Road has been replaced with a brand-new one, which is now installed and ready for residents to enjoy.

A big thank you to local resident Patrick, pictured, who kindly provided his electric generator, tools and expertise to help our Ranger, Nick, get the new bench installed in no time at all.

We hope residents will enjoy the new addition and that it provides a pleasant spot to sit, take a break and enjoy the surroundings for many years to come.

A great bit of teamwork from Nick and Patrick – thank you both!

29/07/2026

Poison Hemlock on Thistledown – Update

The Parish Council would like to advise residents that the poison hemlock on Thistledown was treated on Monday 27 July.

Following advice received, the Parish Council was advised that removing the plants would not address the underlying issue, as poison hemlock can readily re-establish. Treatment was therefore recommended as the most effective way to manage the infestation, and the Council agreed to proceed, despite there being no legal requirement to do so.

We would also like to reassure residents that the greatest risk from poison hemlock is if it is ingested. The plant has a very bitter taste, meaning that most animals naturally avoid eating it. As a precaution, we would advise people not to handle the plant and to supervise children and pets when visiting the area.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to care for and maintain Thistledown for everyone to enjoy.

14/05/2026

We would like to enter John Barr Playground into the 2026 Rural Community Awards and would love to include feedback from the people who use and enjoy it.

We’d really like to hear what the playground means to you and your family, and how you feel it benefits the community in Panfield. Whether it’s giving children a safe place to play, bringing families together or simply being somewhere people enjoy spending time, we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Please comment below or message the Parish Council directly. Your feedback will help support our nomination.

25/04/2026

Panfield Parish Council has now submitted its objection to the proposed Towerlands Phase 2 development (up to 150 homes).

You can read it in full here: https://panfieldvillage.uk/towerlands-phase-2-parish-council-objection/

We’ve also pulled together a simple guide to help residents with their own objections here: https://panfieldvillage.uk/towerlands-phase-2-key-objection-points/

This is a scheme we’ve challenged before, and nothing in this application changes our view, it’s still the wrong development in the wrong place.

We’ll continue to represent the village and push back on this.

If you’d like help submitting an objection, volunteers will be at the Village Hall on 27th and 28th April, and 3rd May, from 1–6pm to support anyone who needs it.

If you feel strongly about it, please do submit your own comments on the planning portal.

Individual responses really do carry weight, especially when they reflect your own experience.

Thank you to everyone who’s already been involved and continues to support this.

13/04/2026

Developer Exhibition – Towerlands Phase 2

Residents may wish to be aware that the developer is holding a public exhibition regarding proposals for Towerlands Phase 2, on land within the Panfield parish boundary.

This will take place at Panfield Village Hall on Monday 20th April, between 3:00pm and 8:00pm.

This exhibition is being organised by the developer and is not an event arranged by Panfield Parish Council.

The session provides an opportunity for residents to view the proposals and ask questions directly to the developer.

10/02/2026

🚗 Speeding & Traffic in Panfield – What the Data Shows 🚗

Over the last 6 months, the Parish Council has been collecting data from two speed signs at either end of the village. With both now in place, we’ve been able to look at the data together for the first time and carry out a more detailed analysis of speeding, traffic patterns, and through traffic.

The findings confirm what many residents have been saying for some time:
-Speeding is more prevalent at the Shalford Road end of the village
-A significant proportion of traffic using the road is passing through, rather than being local
-The worst speeding tends to occur early morning and late evening, when traffic volumes are lower

We’ve pulled all of this into a short report, which you can read here:
https://panfieldvillage.uk/speed-sign-data-report/

If speeding and traffic in Panfield matter to you, please do take a look. Attending Parish Council meetings and staying engaged really does make a difference when we’re trying to push for action with the relevant authorities, especially when Essex County Councillors are in attendance. You can also write directly to Essex Highways to raise your concerns. Resident contact does make a difference when requests are being considered

As always, we’ll continue to do what we can to advocate for Panfield.

Speed Sign Data Report by Panfield Parish Council | Feb 10, 2026 | Highways, Uncategorised | 0 comments Speed Sign Data Analysis Report – Shalford Road End & Church End Overview This report presents an analysis of data collected from two vehicle-activated speed signs installed at either end of the...