Skip to content

Tag: environment

Posted on

Environment & Highways – 8th January 2015

Dog poo fairyEnvironment & Highways – 8th January 2015

The Environment & Highways Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 8th January 2015 to consider a range of issues and decisions affecting the general environment and highways within West Bergholt.  Updates on traffic safety, village ponds, pot-holes, dog bins & poo, beacon, & grass cutting.  The formal report to the Parish Council is as follows:

Environment & Highways Report

Sub-committee Meeting held on Thursday 8th January 2015 in John Lampon Hall

Councillors present  Harry Stone, Murray Harlow, Jenny Church, Phil Walby
Apologies Rosemary James, Rachel Howard

 

1 Grass verges
Grass verges need cutting/trimming/tidying. This will be arranged when weather permits HS
2 Village handyman
The use of a chit book needs to be made to work efficiently. We do not always know when Steve has completed jobs. Harry to follow this up. HS
There is going to be an appraisal system for employees instigated.Methodist Church has requested help with hedge cutting. Harry to arrange for Ivor to do this. HS
3 Village Ponds
Lexden Road and Queens Road ponds have been cleared by TCV and the vegetation removed by Norhurst. Both are looking really good. Hall Road pond needs attention. Jenny to contact Carla Davis. JC
4 Traffic Safety Plan
20mph signs to be put in place along New Church Road and School Road in February. A message from Sonja Church to say the yellow lines will be installed anytime now. Agenda item
There has been a problem in New Church Road by the new houses being built as the builders have been parking their trucks and lorries and creating a problem at school time in the mornings.
5. Potholes
There are problems at various places in the village. Highways need to be informed.
A drain cover uplifting is a problem in John Lampon Close. Harry will report this. HS
6 Dog bin
Check with Val about the order of a bin for Brewery site.
Problem with dog fouling in the village. Complaints have been received. Plan to organise an “anti-dog pooh” campaign in February. Item for bulletin, posters. JC & MH
Ask Marcus to refer to dog warden at CBC HS
7 Beacon
Now to be installed by village sign at end of Chapel Road by Steve. The wording for a plaque agreed. John Gili Ross will arrange this. Agenda item
8. Grass cutting
Sub-committee agreed to carry on using our current arrangements for grass cutting
9 Areas of work in village
Plan to produce a map showing sites of our responsibility in the village. HS
10 AOB
a)   Noise abatement team from CBC have been called out but unfortunately the PC hasn’t been informed of this. It would be useful for us to know.
b)   The rangers from CBC are asked to carry out tasks but we never can be given a date and we are not informed when the work is completed.
Date of next meeting – Thursday 12th February 2015  in  JL Hall
Posted on

Colne & Blackwater Estuaries

Blackwater Marine Conservation Zone
Blackwater Marine Conservation Zone

The impact of challenges facing the Blackwater and Colne estuaries now and in the future.

Graham Underwood, Professor of Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Essex, is speaking in West Mersea on 20th January on the subject of ‘The ecology and future challenges to the Blackwater and Colne estuaries’.

The estuaries, which are a significant feature of the Essex coastline, have been extensively studied over the past 40 years. The talk will summarise the current state of the ecology of these important coastal habitats, and consider the impact of ongoing environmental changes such as climate change on their future functioning.

Professor Underwood has himself been researching this part of our coast for the past 23 years.  He is an expert on coastal and shallow marine systems and has undertaken research on rivers, seas and lakes from the tropics to the frozen oceans. He has been a member of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Panel for Marine Conservation Zones which recommended the designation of the Blackwater-Colne estuaries as a MCZ. He also sits on various boards of the Natural Environment Research Council and is currently a member of the Environment Agency’s Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. Professor Underwood is Executive Dean of Science and Health at Essex University.

Chair of the Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG), Professor Andy Blowers, who will chair the meeting, said:  ‘We are delighted to bring Graham Underwood to Mersea to enlighten us on the present and future state of our rivers and the challenges they face. One of our major concerns has been to protect the marine environment from the threats posed by nuclear reactors and radioactive waste especially in an era of sea level rise and warming inevitably resulting from climate change’.

The meeting will be held at the Museum, High Street, West Mersea at 7.30pm.  (Entry £3 including refreshments.)

Posted on

Environment & Highways – 13th November 2014

The Environment & Highways Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 13th November to consider a range of issues and decisions affecting the general environment and highways within West Bergholt.  Updates on hedge cutting, handymen, weeds, village ponds, Traffic safety, pot-holes, dog bins, beacon, budget & McNally Mews.  The formal report to the Parish Council is as follows:

Environment & Highways Report

Sub-committee Meeting held on Thursday 13th November 2014 in John Lampon Hall

Councillors present  Harry Stone, Murray Harlow, Jenny Church, Phil Walby, Rosemary James
Apologies Rachel Howard

Andrew Savage attended part of meeting

1 Hedge cutting
The hedge cutting and bramble mowing has been carried out and has been very well done. The CBC sweeper followed on and cleared the trimmings. Verges still need attention particularly along New Church Road. HS
2 Village handyman
The use of a chit book appears to be working. Unfortunately, Ivor has been called for jury service so some jobs are waiting attention at the moment. PW
3 Overgrowth of weeds on footways
There has been an incident in New Church Road when a resident slipped on wet vegetation on the footway and broke an arm. Need to ensure village handyman or CBC Rangers keep footways as clear as possible at this time of year when it is wet and there are fallen leaves etc.
4 Village Ponds
The Queens Road pond has been cleared today. Arrange for Norhurst to clear away the cuttings.The Lexden Road pond will be cleared on November 23rd and the Hall Road pond will have to be left until the new year. JC
5. Traffic Safety Plan
The plan is apparently going ahead after it has been signed off for progress. HS
6 Pot Holes
Increase in road markings but no work carried out as yet.
7 Dog bin
A bin is required for the Brewery site – check with Val if this has been ordered. Val
8. Beacon
The beacon has not been put back in place – to check with Chris about this. JC
A plaque needs to be ordered to go on the beacon – Murray to organise this. MH
Agenda item
9 Areas of work in village
Plan to produce a map showing sites of our responsibility in the village. HS
10 Budget for next year.
Andrew discussed preparation of budget for next year. He will forward a copy of agreed budget to sub committee AS
11 McNally Mews
Thanks to Chris for researching the issue raised by Ashley Yates. The request for tree and hedge planting in the area appears to be in accordance with the covenant and there seems to be no objection to be made to this request. Agenda Item
13 AOB
Rosemary requested information about a drainage problem caused by tree roots for a resident recently coming to the village. She will contact CBC for advice and information. RJ
Date of next meeting to be notified
Posted on

Green Open Homes

Green Open HomesSave £££ and win – visit Green Open Homes during May

On Saturdays and Sundays / weekends from 3 – 15 May, 20 local householders will be opening their homes to the public as part of Colchester’s Green Open Homes.  Find out how easy it is to cut hundreds of pounds from your energy bills by installing energy saving measures, from low cost to bigger investments. Plus win shopping vouchers just by visiting one of the Green Open Homes.

The event will be a great opportunity for visitors to see first-hand how various environmental and renewable technologies work, such as solar panels and air source heat pumps.  See the technologies in use in real homes discuss with the householders the practicalities and benefits for them.

  • How much did the installation cost and how simple was it?
  • What effect has it had on their fuel bills?
  • Are the sales claims realistic?

Visit www.colchester.greenopenhomes.net or contact the organizers, en-form, on 01206 367776 or [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] for locations and opening details.

Posted on

Trees for Years – Free Trees

Colchester's Green Spaces logoTrees for Years Initiative – Free Trees for Residents

Saturday 2nd February 2013

The 7th Trees for Years Initiative sponsored by OfficeIS will be held at Rowan House Council Offices Car Park off Sheepen Road between 10am -1pm.

Free trees will be given away to Borough Residents, Community Groups, Schools and Parish Council’s.  Residents can collect up to 3 plants per household and up to 20 per community group, School and Parish Council.

The following species will be available:

  • Raspberry canes
  • Blackcurrant canes
  • Gooseberry bush
  • Blackberry root
  • Acer campestre – Field Maple
  • Prunus padus – Bird Cherry
  • Betula pendula – Silver Birch
  • Corylus avellana – Hazel cob nut
  • Cornus alba ‘Siberica’ – Red Stem dogwood
  • Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ – Yellow stem Dogwood

2013 bare root trees/fruit bushes will be available on a first come first serve basis:

  • Trees must be planted on private property and postcodes will be recorded to monitor the distribution.
  • Cultivation guidance will be available so that trees can be selected, taking into account the ultimate size and form of mature trees.
  • Remember to bring a large bag to put your trees in.

Please telephone 01206 282903 or visit www.colchester.gov.uk and follow the links to see more information on the Trees for Years Initiative

Posted on

Eco-SOS Competition

Do you know how much it costs to run your home, more importantly how easy it could be to reduce those costs and help the environment? If not, why not enter Colchester Borough Council’s Eco-SOS competition and possibly be a lucky winner of a free home energy makeover. To find out more and download an entry form click on the link given here:

http://www.westbergholt.net/downloads/eco-SOS-comp-2010.pdf

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
Posted on

Recycle Week 21-27June 2010

Colchester Borough Council is supporting Recycle Week and is encouraging residents to recycle their small electrical and electronic equipment (anything with a battery or plug) at local Recycling Centres for Household Waste.

What can be recycled?

Waste electrical and electronic equipment that can be recycled includes:

  • kitchen appliances including kettles and toasters
  • power tools
  • tv’s
  • music equipment
  • electronic children’s toys
  • battery powered clocks and watches
  • fluorescent tubes and low energy light bulbs

Nearly 40% of UK residents say they are ‘electrical lovers’ with a quarter missing out on time with family and friends, and 33% losing sleep to spend time with gadgets such as laptops, mobile phones and iPods. Each of us accumulates an average of three new electrical items a year, or 173 million nationally, but only 1 in 5 small electrical items gets recycled each year. The valuable materials such as silver that these items contain can be used again which saves precious new resources from being used. When recycled, just one toaster can provide enough steel to make 25 new cans.

Where can residents reuse or recycle electrical and electronic equipment?

Recycling Centres for Household Waste in the Colchester area are at Shrub End, West Mersea and Lawford. Click here to find the nearest site and information on all items that are accepted there.

Alternatively unwanted working electrical and electronic equipment can find a new home by donating them to charities, including the British Heart Foundation, or on reuse websites. Click here for charity and reuse website contacts.

De-clutter your e-clutter

Nearly 40% of UK residents have at least one electrical item from the last decade stored unused at home. So whether clearing out cupboards, the attic or shed during Recycle Week or throughout the year residents can give all their old, broken or unwanted small electricals the chance to be useful again. There’s no need to hang on to these items due to not being sure of what to do with them or hoping they will come in handy one day.

Residents can pledge to recycle their waste electrical and electronic equipment, enter a prize draw and find more interesting facts and tips by visiting the Recycle Week website.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net