Chelmsford Local Information
Practical local information for Chelmsford: bin collection days, parking, council tax bands and planning, each one linked back to the official source.
Top story
Danbury's Pickled Knight: The 1779 Coffin a Witness Tasted
In 1779 a preserved body was found in liquid under St John the Baptist, Danbury, and one witness with no sense of smell tasted it. Who was the knight?
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Great Baddow
Great Baddow Roadworks: Road Closures and Traffic Orders Near Great Baddow
Great Baddow roadworks: no temporary traffic orders in force within 3 km of Great Baddow right now. Checked every morning from the council's notices.
Great Baddow
Great Baddow Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Great Baddow weather today: overcast, 8°C by day and 3°C overnight, with a 0% chance of rain and winds up to 13 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
South Woodham Ferrers
South Woodham Ferrers Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
South Woodham Ferrers weather today: overcast, 9°C by day and 3°C overnight, with a 0% chance of rain and winds up to 14 mph.
Local Info
Chelmsford Petrol Prices: Cheapest Unleaded and Diesel Today
Cheapest petrol in Chelmsford today: unleaded from 153.9p and diesel from 146.8p a litre, across 6 forecourts within 8 miles. Updated every morning from the...
Weather
Chelmsford Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Chelmsford weather today: overcast, 8°C by day and 3°C overnight, with a 0% chance of rain and winds up to 13 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
Local Info
Chelmsford Roadworks This Week: A130 Shut and Queen Street
The A130 northbound shuts from 8pm Friday 13 to 6am Monday 16 November. Queen Street, off Moulsham Street, then closes for five days from 16 November.
Local Info
Chelmsford bin days: garden waste £62, no Monday rounds
Chelmsford's seven containers and which week each goes out. Garden waste is £62 a year, large items £31, and no collection round in the city runs on a Monday.
Local Info
Parking in Chelmsford: Waterhouse Lane is free at weekends
Waterhouse Lane costs nothing from 6pm Friday to 8am Monday. Full 2026 tariffs for every Chelmsford council car park, resident permits at £28.60, on-street rates.
Local Info
Chelmsford council tax 2026/27: £2,256.84 at band D
Every band A to H for 2026/27, from £1,504.56 to £4,513.68 in the city centre, what each of the 29 parishes adds, and why Danbury pays £154 more than Mashbury.
Local Info
Chelmsford house prices: £382,000 average, area by area
Sold prices for Chelmsford area by area: Land Registry medians for the city centre, Danbury, Writtle and South Woodham Ferrers, plus the district average.
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Chelmsford to London trains: 29 minutes, £5,204 a year
The fastest train reaches Liverpool Street in 29 minutes. Journey times, 2026 fares, the 00:18 last train home, and what Beaulieu Park station changed.
Local Info
Things to do in Chelmsford: free Hylands, £4 museum
Hylands park and the cathedral are free, the museum is £4 and Hyde Hall £18.40. Verified 2026 prices, opening times and the remaining Open Estate Day dates.
Local Info
Chelmsford planning: 3.88 years of housing land, not 5
Chelmsford has 3.88 years of housing land against a five-year duty, and a target up 51% to 1,210 homes a year. The Local Plan is now at examination.
Bins
Chelmsford Christmas Bin Collections 2026/27: What to Expect
The 2026 Christmas bin dates are not out yet. Last year every Chelmsford round moved, with three Saturday catch-ups; here is each round's shift and what to expect.
Schools
Chelmsford School Term Dates 2026/27, and Where Schools Differ
Schools break up on Friday 18 December and return on 4 January, and half term is 15 to 19 February, with INSET days by school. Updated November 2026.
Trains
Chelmsford Christmas Trains: None to London 27 Dec to 3 Jan
From 27 December to 3 January Chelmsford trains stop at Shenfield, with buses to Newbury Park for the Central line. Christmas Eve times are still to come.
Recycling
Chelmsford Tip Opening Times: Drovers Way and South Woodham
South Woodham Ferrers tip is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Drovers Way opens daily, 9am to 4pm, and both need a booked slot by car. Updated November 2026.
Half term
Chelmsford October Half Term 2026: Dates and What's On
Half term in Chelmsford is 26 to 30 October 2026: the free Witches of Chelmsford trail all week, ARU science shows, council camps and a Halloween ice disco.