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Posted on by dave

Environment & Highways – 15th May 2025

VE Day 80th Anniversary

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 15th May 2025 with topics including:

  • Handymen’s Report including:
    • VE Day 80th Anniversary Preparations,
    • Seasonal Maintenance,
    • Fixing the drain cover on the Heath, and
    • Remedial work on the new storage hut.
  • Discussion about dangerous reversing/turning into Heathlands entrance and investigating the need for a barrier of some form,
  • Review of the VE Day 80th Anniversary celebrations, and
  • Inconsiderate driving/speeding in Hall Road.

Read the official minutes below.   

Environment & Highways Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 15th May 2025 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

Members present:David Short (DS) Harry Stone (HS), Manya Barrow (MB) present and John Gili-Ross (JGR) remotely. 
Also present:1 member of the public

1.      Welcome & Apologies

Apologies from Bill Pigeon and Katie Pulford

2.      Declarations of Interests

There were none.

3.      Minutes & actions from previous meeting

The minutes of the 10th April 2025 were agreed by all and there were no actions carried forward.

4.      Public participation

One member of the public was present (see Item 6)

5.      Handymen’s report:

It has been a busy month with the Handymen building up some of their banked hours, partly because of the involvement in VE Day preparations (see item 8). Grass cutting continues and the ride on mower still needs some attention.

The area of the drain cover on the Heath was made safe and it has now been fixed.

Some spraying has been carried out but Ian may need additional training. Simon is due to meet JGR and KP to discuss the spraying of the ponds.

David Hewitt has carried out remedial work on the new hut storage unit doorway but before use can be made of it a suitable walkway is needed.

6.      School Drive entrance

The Headteacher of Heathlands Primary School, Darryl Crawley, talked to the committee about his concerns for the safety of children at the school entrance from New Church Road.  Despite warnings and attempts by staff to talk to drivers, and in particular delivery drivers, vehicles still reverse into the driveway at the key times of the start and end to the school day. Darryl asked the committee to consider installing a simple barrier.

JGR noted that there had been one in the past to prohibit travellers from entering the Heath. It was agreed that any temporary barrier was not practical or appropriate. The PC would be expected to pay for any structure but it would be operated by the school.  Darryl suggested a simple wooden long arm and agreed to submit a proposal by E-mail which could then be costed and submitted to the Finance Committee and PC.

7.      Practice goal area

A pre-start meeting is scheduled for 22nd May 2025.

8.      VE Day 80 Year

The delivery of the celebrations was considered to be a success.  MB felt that the provision of chairs should have been better planned and that the arrangement of the PA system could have been improved so that all parts of the proceedings could be heard by all.

The beacon lighting went well. It now needs to be taken down and repainted before storage.

9.      Hillhouse Woods – disruption in Hall Road

The problems are caused by inconsiderate driving and parking.  The Committee feels that there is little action it can usefully take.

10.  Upcoming Environment Committee items

Following the success of flying the VE flag from the new flagpole the Committee recommends the purchase of a similar Union Jack and St George flag.

11.  Date of next meeting

The next Environment Committee meeting will be on Thurs 12th June 2025, at 4.30pm in the SC Meeting Room.