Welcome

This website is here to keep you informed about your Parish Council.  We hope you will find the content interesting and informative.

As well as the usual information about agendas and minutes of the meetings, the website will provide information about local organisations, planning applications, news and events and issues that are relevant to our community.

Wickham St. Paul Parish Council consists of 6 Parish Councillors

Meetings usually take place bi-monthly on a Tuesday (except August ) and commence at 7.15pm in the Pavilion, Village Hall. Future meeting dates 2026:- 20th January 2026 (note date changed) 18th March (Annual Parish Assembly-Village meeting), 31st March, 26th May, 28th July, 29th Sept, 24th Nov, 26 Jan 2027.

Next Meeting

Annual Parish Meeting followed by Parish Council Meeting 26th May 2026.

The Braintree District Council’s new Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) collection service collections to start from June 2026 onwards.

This free service is available to eligible kerbside households where nappies, continence or other absorbent hygiene products are used regularly and additional non‑recyclable waste capacity is needed. The service has been introduced to provide practical support to residents and to help manage waste more effectively.

Key points you may wish to share with residents:

  • The AHP service provides a separate, free collection of absorbent hygiene waste using council‑issued sacks.
  • AHP waste is collected two out of every three weeks: once in the week before the grey bin is collected, and again on grey bin week.
  • AHP sacks can also be placed inside the grey bin on the normal refuse collection day where there is space and the lid can fully close.
  • The service is optional and households can continue using their grey bin if they have sufficient capacity.
  • The service has been designed to be discreet and dignity‑focused.
  • Residents must apply for the service; it is not provided automatically.
  • The service is aimed at supporting households who generate higher levels of non‑recyclable waste due to care or medical needs, including families with young children and residents using continence products.

Full details, including eligibility criteria, accepted items and how to apply, are available on the Council website: https://www.braintree.gov.uk/ahpcollections

If you have any queries that are not covered on the website, please contact Customer Services on 01376 552525 or via the online contact options.

Below are some FAQs we thought you might find useful, as well as an attached example collections calendar which will be sent to residents upon approval:

How does the application process for the AHP service work?

Residents must apply for the AHP collection service, as it is not provided automatically.

Applications are made online through the Council website (https://www.braintree.gov.uk/ahpcollections). As part of the application, residents are asked to confirm:

  • That their household is a kerbside property
  • That absorbent hygiene products (such as nappies or continence items) are used regularly
  • That additional non‑recyclable waste capacity is needed

Once an application is received, it is assessed to confirm eligibility.

How long does it take for the service to start once someone applies?

After an application is approved:

  • The household will receive a welcome pack, including information about their collection schedule
  • Council‑issued AHP sacks will be delivered to the property

The service will begin as soon as the sacks have been delivered and the household’s collection schedule is activated. Start dates can vary depending on application volumes and sack delivery routes.

Residents are advised to continue using their grey bin for this waste until their AHP service is fully set up.

How are AHP sacks delivered?

AHP sacks are delivered separately by the council following approval of an application. The delivery is not linked to normal bin collections and may take place on a different day.

Households receive an initial allocation of sacks, with instructions on how to request more if needed in the future.

Who is the AHP service for?

The service is for households where someone who normally lives at the property uses disposable nappies, continence products, or other absorbent hygiene items on a regular basis and needs extra waste capacity.

Does it cost anything?

No. The AHP collection service is free of charge for households that qualify.  

What items can go into AHP sacks?

Accepted items include disposable nappies, incontinence pads and pants, bed and chair pads, colostomy and stoma bags (emptied), catheter bags (emptied) and similar care‑related consumables. A full list of accepted and non‑accepted items is provided on the council website.

Cat litter is not classed as an Absorbent Hygiene Product and should continue to be disposed of in the household’s normal grey (non‑recyclable) bin.

Period products are not included in the AHP collection service and should be placed in the household’s grey (non‑recyclable) bin in the usual way.

Clinical waste must not be placed in AHP sacks. This typically includes:

  • Sharps (needles, syringes, lancets)
  • Items contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids where there is an infection risk
  • Waste that a GP, hospital or care team has specifically classed as clinical waste

How often will AHP waste be collected?

Separate AHP collections take place the week before each grey bin collection. In addition, AHP sacks can be placed inside the grey bin on normal non-recyclable waste day where there is space and the lid can fully close. Otherwise, AHP sacks may be placed beside the grey on the normal non-recyclable waste collection day. Collection calendars are provided to approved households.

What about privacy and dignity?

The service has been deliberately designed to be discreet. Bags are unmarked, can be placed inside the grey bin where space allows, and crews are trained to handle them as routine waste. Existing assisted collection arrangements can also be used.

Can residents in flats or communal properties apply?

At present, the AHP service is available to kerbside households only. Communal properties usually already receive more frequent waste collections. Residents in communal settings with exceptional circumstances can contact the council for advice on their options.

What if someone already has enough bin space?

Using the AHP service is optional. Households can continue to place these items in their grey bin if they have sufficient capacity. The service is there to support those who need additional help.

Full details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, are available at https://www.braintree.gov.uk/ahpcollections

Wickham St Paul’s Parish Council obtains Silver Quality Council Award May 2026.

Mobile Library Service – Mobile library stop opposite the Victory pub, by the pond.


We operate a free library service every third Wednesday from the 19th of February 2025 Between 13:10 and 13:40pm.
Passenger Transport /Bus service

10192 DaRT 3 leaflet v3 ACCESSIBLEDownload

Use of the village Defibrillator located outside the Victory InnOPEN

Lookout Magazine

Owing to the risk of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to the volunteers who deliver the magazine, the next few issues will now only be available on-line.

If you know of any recipients who don’t have access to the internet, please let Michael Goodbody know, 01787 269250 and he will arrange for a hard copy to be posted to them. 

Get In Touch

If you would like to contact the Council please use the details in the footer of this page or visit our Contact Us page.