Stories of the week

Click on the links to read the full stories.

Story one: Independent cafe staff played down the possible threat to their businesses from Starbucks when it comes to their high street in September.

The American firm confirmed it will take over the former Wimpy premises in High Street, Epping, creating 10 new jobs, making it the third major coffee chain on the road, alongside Caffe Nero and Costa.

Read the full story here.

Story two: A dedicated community activist, who spent decades aiming to improve lives, died last week.

Dave Stannard, chairman of Loughton Broadway Town Centre Partnership, lost a long battle with cancer on his 70th birthday.

Tributes described his “invaluable” contribution and “great influence” on the area.

Read the full story here.

Story three: The owner of a homeware store has described the high street where he has his shop as one of the friendliest places he has ever worked.

Pravin Vadher, 60, owns House 2 Home in High Street, Epping, which stocks around 7,000 items from kettles to keyholes. He has been in the retail industry for 35 years and has run the shop for the past five years with his wife Nayna and daughter Jessi.

Read the full story here.

Story four: Meals on Wheels could cost customers more than £300 extra a year if a proposed removal of a council subsidy goes ahead.

Essex County Council has begun a six-week consultation into the service, which currently costs £3.95 per meal. This could rise to £4.79 if the subsidy was removed, costing daily customers an additional £305.76 a year.

Read the full story here.

Story five: The manager of a taxi company has vowed to ignore prices clocked up by meters which will be installed into his cabs next week.

From Monday the district's Hackney carriages - taxis which can be hailed on the street - are to be fitted with the meters, which will also charge a higher rate tariff - tariff two - after 10pm and on Sundays.

Read the full story here.