Sect News is the Social and Economic Colchester Times.

Our purpose is to provide useful local information about Colchester and the surrounding area.

We cover businesses, employment, money, the economy, local news and other subjects that affect people and organisations in the area. We also provide information about individual local communities and nearby towns.

The website is intended to be straightforward and accessible.

We do not want local information to be unnecessarily complicated. Where a subject is difficult, we aim to explain it in clear language and provide enough information for readers to understand the issue.

Information can change, particularly opening hours, prices, employment opportunities, regulations, planning decisions and business circumstances. Readers should therefore check important information with the relevant organisation or official source before making an important decision. We currently cover the following areas:

Locations

Colchester

Wivenhoe

Sect News Locations – Local News, Business, Jobs and Money

Sect News is the Social and Economic Colchester Times.

We provide local information about Colchester and the surrounding area, covering subjects that are relevant to people who live, work or run businesses locally.

Our coverage includes local news, businesses, employment, money-saving information, business advice, the local economy, community matters, planning, housing, transport, legal information and other subjects that affect the area.

We also cover video games and technology alongside our local and economic content.

The purpose of the website is straightforward. We want to provide useful information about the places around Colchester and make it easier for people to find information about their own area.

What Sect News Covers

Local News

We cover local developments and issues affecting Colchester and surrounding communities.

This can include council decisions, planning applications, new developments, transport changes, local services, community issues, businesses opening or closing and other matters of local interest.

Local news does not only mean major events. Changes to a local road, shop, business, community facility or service can also be relevant to people living in an area.

Local Businesses

Businesses are an important part of our coverage.

We provide information about businesses operating in Colchester and nearby towns and communities. This includes shops, restaurants, tradespeople, professional services, employers, offices, independent businesses and larger organisations.

Our business coverage can include information about what businesses do, where they operate, changes affecting them and subjects that may be useful to customers, employees and other businesses.

Business Advice

Sect News also provides general business information.

Topics can include:

Starting a business
Running a small business
Business costs
Business rates
Employment
Marketing
Local economic conditions
Business planning
Managing costs
Changes to rules and regulations
Tax and accounting subjects
Working as self-employed
Business technology

The purpose is to explain business subjects in straightforward language.

Business articles are general information and are not intended to replace professional legal, financial or accounting advice.

Jobs and Employment

Employment is another important part of our coverage.

We cover subjects that may be useful to people looking for work as well as employers.

This can include:

Local employment
Jobs and vacancies
Apprenticeships
Training
CVs and applications
Interviews
Employment rights
Pay and working conditions
Recruitment
Local employers
Changes affecting the labour market

The employment market can vary between different parts of Colchester and Essex, so our location pages can also provide information about employment in particular areas.

Money-Saving Information

Household finances are affected by many different factors.

Sect News provides general money-saving information covering subjects such as household bills, energy, food shopping, transport, subscriptions, insurance and other everyday costs.

We also look at the economic issues behind changes in prices and household spending.

The aim is to provide practical information rather than financial promotion.

The Local Economy

We cover the wider economy and how national and regional changes can affect Colchester.

This can include interest rates, inflation, employment, business costs, government policies, taxation, property, investment and changes in consumer spending.

National economic news can seem distant from everyday life. Our aim is to consider what those changes may mean for people and businesses in Colchester and the surrounding area.

Housing

Housing is an important local subject.

Our coverage can include housebuilding, planning applications, housing costs, renting, affordable housing, new developments and changes to the local housing market.

We also consider how new housing affects roads, schools, healthcare, public transport, shops, green spaces and other local infrastructure.

Planning and Development

Planning decisions can have a direct effect on local communities.

Sect News can cover planning applications and development proposals involving housing, commercial property, roads, community facilities and other infrastructure.

We also look at longer-term plans for Colchester and surrounding areas.

Transport

Transport is important to both residents and businesses.

Our coverage can include roads, buses, railways, cycling, walking, parking and developments affecting local transport.

Transport can have an economic effect as well. Businesses depend on customers and employees being able to reach them, while people depend on transport to reach jobs, schools and services.

Community Information

We cover community matters across Colchester and nearby towns.

This can include community centres, local groups, events, public facilities, charities, voluntary organisations and other activities taking place within local communities.

Different areas have different facilities and priorities, which is why our location pages provide information about individual neighbourhoods and towns.

Legal Information

From time to time, Sect News also publishes general legal information.

This may cover subjects such as:

Employment law
Housing and tenancy matters
Property
Wills and probate
Business contracts
Consumer rights
Planning
Family law
Small-business legal matters

Where appropriate, legal subjects may be recommended or reviewed by local solicitors.

Legal information published on Sect News is general information and should not be treated as individual legal advice.

Video Games and Technology

Sect News also covers video games and related technology.

This can include new games, gaming hardware, the games industry, technology, online services and subjects that are relevant to people who play or work in the games sector.

Although this content is not limited to Colchester, it forms part of the wider range of subjects covered by the Social and Economic Colchester Times.

Our Local Areas

Sect News covers Colchester as a whole as well as individual neighbourhoods, wards and nearby towns.

The location pages are intended to provide more detailed information about particular places, including their local businesses, employment, housing, transport, community facilities and economic circumstances.

Colchester

Our main coverage area is Colchester itself.

This includes the city centre and the surrounding residential, commercial and suburban areas.

Colchester is made up of many different communities. The economic and social conditions in one part of the city can be very different from another, which is why we provide individual location coverage.

Mile End

Mile End is one of the larger communities in northern Colchester.

Our coverage includes local housing, businesses, employment, transport, schools, community facilities, development and the wider economy.

Myland

Myland is another major northern Colchester community and is closely connected with Mile End and the wider northern side of the city.

We cover local development, housing, businesses, employment, transport and community issues affecting the area.

Highwoods

Highwoods is a residential and business area in northern Colchester.

Coverage includes local businesses, employment, housing, schools, green spaces, transport and development.

Braiswick

Braiswick is on the northern side of Colchester and has connections with Mile End, Myland and the wider northern part of the city.

We cover housing, businesses, transport, employment, local services and development.

Lexden

Lexden is an established area to the west of Colchester.

Our coverage includes local businesses, housing, schools, services, transport, planning, green spaces and the area’s wider connection with Colchester.

Stanway

Stanway is to the west and south-west of Colchester and has an important retail and commercial role.

We cover Stanway’s businesses, employment, housing, transport, planning, development and community facilities.

Prettygate

Prettygate is an established residential area in western Colchester.

Coverage includes local shops and services, businesses, employment, housing, schools, transport and community matters.

Shrub End

Shrub End is a large residential community in south-west Colchester.

We cover local businesses, employment, housing, schools, transport, community facilities, development and green spaces.

New Town

New Town is an established neighbourhood close to Colchester town centre.

Our coverage includes housing, businesses, local services, employment, transport, community matters and changes affecting the area.

Christ Church

Christ Church is another established area close to the centre of Colchester.

We cover local businesses, housing, employment, schools, community facilities, transport and development.

St Anne’s and St John’s

St Anne’s and St John’s is an established community close to the town centre.

Coverage includes local businesses, housing, employment, schools, community facilities, transport and local services.

Greenstead

Greenstead is an established community in eastern Colchester.

We cover local businesses, employment, housing, community services, regeneration, transport and other social and economic issues affecting the area.

Old Heath

Old Heath is in south-east Colchester and is closely connected with The Hythe and other southern communities.

Our coverage includes local businesses, housing, community facilities, employment, transport and development.

The Hythe

The Hythe is a riverside area in south-east Colchester.

Its connections with the River Colne, businesses, transport, the University of Essex and wider development make it an important part of our local coverage.

Berechurch

Berechurch is in southern Colchester and includes established residential areas as well as areas affected by housing and development.

We cover housing, businesses, employment, schools, transport, planning and community issues.

Blackheath

Blackheath is a southern Colchester community connected with Berechurch and the wider southern side of the city.

Coverage includes housing, local services, businesses, transport, employment, green spaces and development.

Nearby Towns and Communities

Our coverage is not limited to the Colchester city boundary.

Many people who live in nearby towns work, study or run businesses in Colchester. Similarly, Colchester residents use businesses and services in surrounding communities.

For this reason, Sect News also provides location coverage for nearby towns and communities.

Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe is a nearby riverside town with close economic and transport connections to Colchester and the University of Essex.

We cover Wivenhoe’s local businesses, employment, housing, transport, community matters, planning and the local environment.

Other Surrounding Areas

Our wider coverage can include other towns, villages and communities around Colchester as the website develops.

These can include areas such as:

Rowhedge
Alresford
Elmstead Market
West Bergholt
Dedham
Tiptree
Marks Tey
Layer
Great Horkesley
Stanway
Copford
Fingringhoe
Abberton
Mersea Island
Wivenhoe
Other nearby villages and communities

The exact subjects covered will depend on what is happening locally and what information is useful to residents and businesses.

Colchester and the Surrounding Area

Colchester is not one single community.

It is made up of many neighbourhoods, each with its own housing, businesses, facilities and local issues. It is also surrounded by towns and villages which have strong economic and social connections with the city.

This is why Sect News covers both the individual areas and the wider Colchester economy.

Our existing local coverage reflects this approach. The Colchester overview describes the city as a collection of different communities, while individual location pages provide more detailed information about particular areas.

Our Approach

Our approach is simple:

Local information, covering the people, businesses, communities and economic issues of Colchester and the surrounding area.

We will continue to add location pages as our coverage expands.

The aim is to make Sect News a useful source of information whether someone is looking for a local business, searching for work, trying to understand a local development, looking for ways to save money, running a business or simply wanting to understand what is happening in their part of Colchester.

The Social and Economic Colchester Times is about Colchester, its communities and the surrounding area.