Environment & Highways 9th September 2021

Highlights of Environment & Highways Meeting on 9th September 2021

Environment - butterfly on flower

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 9th September 2021 with topics including:

  • Handymen undertook activities from tree -trimming to churchyard-tending. Additional help required October – November. Their new vehicle is now in operation,
  • The Cherry trees at Orpen Hall are dying, what to do?
  • Environmental plan, volunteers needed to maintain ponds. Hall Road pond overgrown,
  • Problems & surveys on Colchester Road.

Environment & Highways Report

Committee Meeting held on Thursday 9th September 2021 in the Youth Shelter.

Members present:-John Gili-Ross (Chairman), Phil Spencer, Harry Stone, David Short, Norma Smith, Jenny Church.
1Handymen report
 Grass cutting and mowing remain a priority. Tree trimming and tidying up surrounds.
In New Church Road the churchyard and graveyard have been cut and tidied.
Some spraying has been required in various areas within the village.
Devolved Essex activities continue.
We will be down to 1 handyman for most of October and November. It is proposed that an advert is placed on Hub seeking additional handymen support.
2Village Ponds
 All village ponds are fairly full at this time. The pond in Hall Road is very overgrown and convolvulus weeds are growing up and into the neighbour’s hedge.
3.Replacement of trees at front of Orpen Hall
 Of the 3 cherry trees remaining – one is dead and the other two are dying and are at risk of developing honey fungus. They will need to be removed and the cost of doing so investigated. Norma to place an item on the Hub explaining why the trees need removing. It is proposed to replace the trees in the Autumn possibly with semi-mature trees being ideal. We have had 2 tree donation offers and other will be sought.  PS to produce an options paper for the PC to consider and agree the type and location of the replacement trees.
4Strategic Environmental Plan
 Need to identify group of volunteers to care for ponds.
The cut-through from the LD Field to Mumford Road will be tidied up and the footway reformed to allow easier passage between the two areas.  The proposal is to turn part of this greensward into a wildlife refuge.
5Handyman vehicle
 The new truck is in operation and the Focus has been sold.
New magnetic Parish Council signs have been purchased for the Council truck.
6Colchester Road.
 The planned survey for the pedestrian crossing near the old Treble Tile building does not appear to be progressing and this should be flagged to the PC for further chase up. Footpath along Colchester Road from White Hart junction towards Hall Road developed a dangerous hole.  A temporary cover has been put over the hole to help prevent the possibility of injury.  This is the second hole in this stretch with a metal plate having been placed over a much larger hole.   These holes have been reported to ECC Highways for urgent rectification. 
  Date of next meeting Thursday 14th October 2021
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