Do You Have Time To Spare?

Time to Become a Community Special Constable?

Spike did and he doesn’t regret using it as a Special Constable:

Recruiting Community Specials

The parish has a low crime rate but does suffer from occasional antisocial behaviour and parking issues, along with sporadic rural crime.  West Bergholt Parish Council are supporting Essex Police to increase local and visible policing in their area. 

Community Special Constables are more focussed than Special Constables, they dedicate their voluntary service to the area that matters most to them – their town or parish. In return, the local council will pay the allowances and expenses of their officers and they’ll have a say in the issues that their local Specials deal with.

If you already know you are interested then apply online:

What Are Community Specials?

Continue reading “Do You Have Time To Spare?”

Lots of Interest in Future of Methodist Church

Lots of Interest in Consultation eventLots of Interest in Future of Methodist Church

Residents showed lots of interest in the future of the Methodist Church & Hall with 75 attending our recent consultation event.  The next step is to participate in an online survey established by the Parish Council and St Mary’s Church to build on the event.  The deadline for completing the survey is 10 pm on Sunday 30th June.

The event produced a stunning array of ideas, some pictorial, others in words – please enjoy Continue reading “Lots of Interest in Future of Methodist Church”

Trees for Years 2019

Red Stem Dogwood, available in Trees for Years 2016

Trees for Years 2019

Colchester Borough Council is giving residents and groups who’d like to green-up their gardens a helping hand, with its annual ‘Trees for Years’ giveaway on Saturday, 2 February.  Turn up at Rowan House, 33 Sheepen Road between 10 am – 1 pm and you can take home up to 3 plants per resident (or 15 per school/community group or parish council).  Arrive Continue reading “Trees for Years 2019”

20’s Plenty Near Heathlands

A typical public event with Murray Harlow towering over the others

New Church Road
L-R Rachel Hopkins (teacher – Heathlands), Jeremy Hallam (headteacher – Heathlands), Aaron Monks (winner – age 9), Cllr Anne Brown (Essex County Councillor), John Gili-Ross (Parish Council – Chair of Environment), Mrs Monks (Aaron’s Mum), Murray Harlow (Parish Council – Communications), Harry Stone (Parish Council – Vice Chair & Transport Rep), Chris Stevenson (Chairman Parish Council)

At School Lane

20’s Plenty Near Heathlands

Improving traffic safety in our villages and schools can take some time but West Bergholt Parish Council has shown it is worth the effort.  Over a three-year period the village produced and introduced a Traffic Safety Plan.  It did this working in partnership with Essex County Council, Heathlands primary school and village residents.

A series of road safety measures were agreed and Continue reading “20’s Plenty Near Heathlands”

The Who Will Care? Awards Return for 2017

Who will Care? AwardsThe Who Will Care? Awards Return for 2017

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Who Will Care? Awards taking place on 24 May 2017. Seven award categories celebrate the unsung heroes volunteering across Essex.  They bring together communities and individuals who are working to make Essex an even greater place to live, work and visit. 

Nominate any business, charity or individual you feel deserves recognition for their volunteering efforts in our county, by filling in an online form.

Nominations close Friday 3 March 2017 at midnight. Read about last year’s winners here. Continue reading “The Who Will Care? Awards Return for 2017”

Friends of Hillhouse Wood AGM – 14th December

Entrance to Hillhouse Wood AGMFriends of Hillhouse Wood AGM

This will be the 22nd Friends of Hillhouse Wood AGM and all are very welcome to attend.  Don’t hesitate to turn up; you don’t have to be a member to attend, you’ll just miss the pleasure of voting!

Taking place on Wednesday 14th December in the Orpen Hall, the meeting will start at 7:30 although refreshments will be served from 7pm.  The Agenda is:

Chairman’s opening remarks. Continue reading “Friends of Hillhouse Wood AGM – 14th December”

New Speeding & Parking Initiative

Speeding & parking initiative using TrygveNew Speeding & Parking Initiative

Following the recent Traffic Safety Group meeting, a new initiative has been launched to help reduce parking & speeding issues in and around West Bergholt. Based on a free community safety App, Trygve, users can share and receive local incident information in real time.  This information can be as detailed as you want including pictures and GPS location but should always include:

  • Date.
  • Time.
  • Where (did it happen).
  • What (was the issue).

Using the App will allow the group to measure the number of incidents and identify hot spots.

Already in use in many communities in the UK, a Neighbourhood watch coordinator using it in his community has said:

The Trygve interface is easy to understandThe app has not only been good at creating a community, but we have also been able to help with a few incidents of anti-social behaviour and thefts, by being able to pass more information onto police.  It can help map any crime trends, and make users aware of areas they may want to be more alert.

It is an easier and quicker way for the community to communicate with each other as Facebook is not as instant as this app, nor can it use GPS as accurately.  I am proud to co-ordinate our group and use my skills from my job to share more safety tips.

You can download Trygve to Android or iPhone devices; there is also a mobile friendly web-version for other mobiles and devices.

Broadband Update July 2016 – What Options?

Broadband Update July 2016 – What Options?

Background

First of all, the Parish Council held an extended Parish Council meeting at the end of April to review all the options open to us. Aaron Williams gave an excellent presentation and consequently meetings have been held with many ‘players’. These meetings with County Broadband, Voneus, BT Openreach and Essex County Council means the position about better broadband in the village is becoming a little clearer.

Here is a snapshot of the current position:

Continue reading “Broadband Update July 2016 – What Options?”

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