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Tag: orpen hall

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Attended Freighter this weekend

Attended Freighter this weekend

Make the most of this Free Skip Service from CBC at the Orpen Hall Car Park on Saturday 22nd August 2015 between 11.00 am – 12.00 noon

Colchester Borough Council will be in West Bergholt at the Orpen Hall car park with their ‘Attended Freighter’ to collect small loads of household items that are not collected as part of your regular kerbside collection.

Please don’t use this service to dispose of items which can be recycled, although you can bring garden waste separately which will be composted.

Please note that they will cannot accept any of the following items:

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A BIG HAND to Hand in Hand Day Volunteers

A BIG HAND to Hand in Hand Day Volunteers

Hand in hand volunteers ready to workThe Parish Council would like to thank all of the volunteers, who kindly gave up their time to assist with the West Bergholt Hand in Hand Day.

The volunteers who came to help on the day joined the Colchester Borough Community Zone Team. The street sweepers were out most of the day, clearing all of the major and minor roads. Litter picking was conducted around the Orpen Hall, along Hall Road, Colchester Road and by the allotments. Paths were strimmed and cleared of debris, making them easier to use.

This has all helped contribute to maintaining West Bergholt as a clean and pleasant place to live.

Many thanks

 

Hand in hand volunteers get sweeping"This is a broom, I will use it to sweep when the photographer has finished"

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Youth Group Organize Family Fun Day

BYG LogoYouth Group Organize Family Fun Day

Bergholt Youth Group – BYG – is holding a family fun day at the Orpen Hall and Lorkin Daniel field on Saturday 27th June, from 2-4pm.  There is no entry fee to the event and all family members are welcome to come along and see what the Youth Club provides for children in the village.

As well as having most of the usual Youth Club equipment out for people to try, including the pool and table tennis tables and the various PlayStation, XBox and Wii games etc., BYG will also be running tennis sessions, a penalty shootout competition and some poor unsuspecting soul will be in the stocks ready for target practise with wet sponges!  There will also be afternoon “tea and cake” on sale, in addition to the normal Club tuck shop.

BYG is run every other Friday evening from September through to July for children of school year 6 and above.  It has been running for over 6 years, staffed by volunteers.  BYG currently has around 90 members and the Club evenings are regularly attended by over 50 children.  There will be a Club info table displaying further information and the Club volunteers – “Crew” – will be on hand to answer any questions people may have.
BYG Fun Day 2015

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Premises & Recreation – 14th April 2015

The Premises & Recreation Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 14th April when they discussed a range of issues affecting Orpen Hall & playing fields such as dogs & puppies, football & Bluebells.

Premises & Recreation Report

Sub-committee meeting held on Thursday 14th April 2015 at the John Lampon Hall

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

Victoria Beckwith Cole in attendance.

1.

Orpen Hall
a)   Vicky has heard from firm supplying chairs and has been sent a diagram of how to use the locking clips. VBC
b)   Hall cleaning. Deep cleaning of JL Hall carried out during Easter holidays. Some areas need further attention. Vicky will hold the cheque until these have been rectified. VBC
c)    Security lights at 4 corners of hall changed to LED and are very effective and make the car park much safer.
d)   Some posters for the table top sale held this last month still need removing from village.
e)   Meeting held with Bluebells. Price for hiring hall agreed for the coming year.
f)    Light in main hall requires fixing. VBC
g)    A notice board has been purchased for the kitchen. This will display Health and Safety notice and any information for regular users. VBC
h)   Proposed to attach dado rails along walls in JL Hall to prevent tables from scraping the walls and paint. Murray will ask Scott Thorpe to quote for this job. PW

2

Play equipment
 “Play Equip” has quoted for repairs to play area rubber flooring with guarantee. Planned for 10th June. PW

3

Football Club
Business case re buying of mower discussed and agreed at Finance meeting. PW

4

Dog Warden
Phil met with the dog warden from CBC who investigated specific areas. A dog bin has been located in the Brewery site.
Discussed ordering of new  “anti-dog-fouling” notices. PW

5

Dogs on Orpen Hall site.
Propose to send letter to Football club reminding them that dogs are not allowed on the Lorkin Daniell Field. PW

6

Puppy training in hall.
Some members expressed concern that this was held in the Hall where children are playing at other times. Phil said that the hall was always left clean.

7

Communication
a)   It was proposed by Phil that there would be no Premises sub-committee meeting in July, August and December unless there was urgent business to discuss.
b)   There was an excellent response to the Annual Parish meeting and this was most successful.
c)    Superfast broadband. Many areas of the village still have very slow broadband. We need to discuss how we can get an improved service. Because we have County Broadband providing some service it appears that we do not qualify for Superfast Essex. This does not help the residents who currently have a poor service or no service at all. As a Parish Council we need to find a method of dealing with the problem. How can we achieve an improved service? Agenda Item

Date of next meeting – Thursday 14th May 2015

 

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Neighbourhood Plan Exhibition & Consultation

Exhibition of the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan project

Neighbourhood Plan Exhibition & Consultation

How will West Bergholt change over the next 20 years?

LeafletVisit the Neighbourhood Plan exhibition at the Orpen Hall, on Saturdays 11th and 18th April 11am to 4pm, to find out how the Neighbourhood Plan Group would respond to this question; refreshments will be available.  But the Neighbourhood Plan Group really need your views as well and are looking for a response from as many people as possible.  It takes about 20 minutes to view the exhibition, if you want to discuss any of the proposals, members of the steering group will be available.

Do you like their suggestions? If not, tell them why? THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, TO HAVE YOUR SAY.

Find out more on our website at:

 

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Premises & Recreation – 12th March 2015

The Premises & Recreation Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 12th March when they discussed a range of issues affecting Orpen Hall & playing fields such as Orpen Players, Play equipment, football club and puppy training.

Premises & Recreation Report

Sub-committee meeting held on Thursday 12th March 2015 at the John Lampon Hall

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

Victoria Beckwith Cole in attendance.

1 Orpen Hall
a)     Locking chairs in main hall – still a bit of a problem – Phil to contact the suppliers. PW
b)     Hall cleaning. Deep cleaning of JL Hall to be carried out in Easter holidays. Vicky to discuss with Mike for quote. VBC
c)     Security lights at 4 corners of hall to be changed to LED.  Vicky has contacted the suppliers and this will be carried out on the 16th over a 2 day period. VBC
d)     A table top sale has been held in the Hall. Organiser will remove the adverts around the village next week. VBC
e)     A Meeting has been held with Orpen Players. Good discussion of issues. Hire cost increase for hall agreed for coming year. PW
f)      Meeting to be arranged with Bluebells to discuss issues and hire costs for coming year. PW
2 Play equipment
Quotes have been requested from “Play Equip” for repairs. Ivor to make repairs to seats etc. in Easter holidays PW
3 Film night
This planning will be on hold until May/June. Phil will arrange to discuss with Bernard about the project. PW
4 Football club
The club wishes to buy a mower. Proposal to be discussed at Finance sub-committee re financial assistance from PC. PW
5 Annual Report
Phil has prepared the annual report for this sub-committee – agreed by those present.
6 Puppy training in hall.
Some members expressed concern that this was held in the Hall where children are playing at other times. Phil said that the hall was always left clean.
7 Walls in JL Hall
The walls have been marked and scratched where the tables are pushed against the wall. Proposed to buy appropriate colour paint to cover these over. PW
8 Kitchen cutlery
Teaspoons are missing from the kitchen!! Vicky has put up notice in the kitchen to try to initiate their return. None returned yet.
Date of next meeting – to be notified
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Premises & Recreation – 12th February 2015

The Premises & Recreation Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 12th February when they discussed a range of issues affecting Orpen Hall & playing fields such as spoons going missing from Orpen Hall (please return if you have any), events, cleaning and safety of play equipment.

Premises & Recreation Report

Sub-committee meeting held on Thursday 12th February 2015 at the John Lampon Hall

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

Victoria Beckwith Cole in attendance.

1. Orpen Hall
a)   Locking chairs in main hall – still a bit of a problem – Phil to write to the suppliers to explain problem. And ask for someone to advise. PW
b)   Hall cleaning. Deep cleaning of JL Hall to be carried out in half term Vicky to discuss with Mike to agree cleaning specifications and schedule. VBC
c)    Security lights at 4 corners of hall to be changed to LED.  Vicky to communicate with company concerned. VBC
d)   A table top sale has been booked in the Hall for March. Plan to investigate having a PC table top sale in the future. VBC
e)   Fire Safety Audit carried out – everything in good order – next due September 2015
f)     Meeting has been arranged with Orpen Players for 17th Feb. to discuss issues. PW
g)    Meeting to be arranged with Bluebells to discuss issues. PW
2 Practice Goal Area
Ivor has completed the work to restore the grass area. This will be ready for use at the end of the week.
3 Film night
Phil will arrange to discuss with Bernard about this project. PW
4 Play equipment
Phil will talk to Ivor about what is required to make all play equipment safe. The areas of concern are all low risk. PW
5 Football Club
The West Bergholt Football Club wish to buy grass cutting equipment and have asked the PC if they could assist financially in any way. PW
Agenda item
6 Car Park
The work on the ramp, paving and plant areas has been completed and appears a good job done. Agenda item
7 Mobile phone
Vicky now has a contract mobile phone.
8 AOB
a)   Teaspoons are missing from the kitchen!! Vicky to put up notice in the kitchen to try to initiate their return. VBC
b)   CBC to be charged usual fee for use of JL Hall for elections in May VBC
c)    Maintenance of flower beds around Hall – how is this being organised? Agenda item
Date of next meeting – Thursday 12th March 2015 in JL Hall
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Premises & Recreation – 13th November 2014

The Premises & Recreation Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 13th November to consider a range of issues and decisions affecting the Premises and Recreational facilities under their jurisdiction.  Updates on Play equipment, Practice Goal, Orpen Hall & Annual Fireworks display.  The formal report to the Parish Council is as follows:

Premises & Recreation Report

Sub-committee meeting held on Thursday 13th November 2014 at the John Lampon Hall

Councillors present Phil Walby, Jenny Church, Murray Harlow, Rosemary James, Andrew Savage
Apologies  Rachel Howard

Victoria Beckwith Cole in attendance.

1. Budget for next year
Andrew in attendance to discuss preparation for next year’s budget for Orpen Hall. He will forward the agreed budget to sub-committee. AS
2 Orpen Hall
a.   Letting for New Year’s Eve agreed. Vicky is able to unlock and lock up after the event. Hirer is responsible person, it is a charitable function. Agreed to levy increased deposit of £200 to cover risk of damage. VBC
b.   Cleaning problem appears to be resolved. Mike has now taken on a new cleaner. To be monitored for the next month to assess improvement or need to still have a meeting with Mike.  PW
c.   The problem with the locking chairs has been caused by the wrong clips being supplied. The company will attend and rectify the problem. VBC
d.   “Snagging” problems following decoration of halls have been satisfactorily rectified by decorators.
e.   PAT testing has been completed.
3 Practice goal area on field
Ivor has prepared the goal area and laid foundation work. The artificial turf will be laid when Ivor returns from Jury service. PW
4 Film night
To be put on hold until the New Year. Discussions to be arranged with Bernard. PW
5 Play Equipment
Inspection report has been read.  Await talking to Ivor about what is required to make fully safe all equipment. The areas of concern are all low risk. The area is underused at this present time because of the weather. PW
6 Heathlands Firework display
The event went very smoothly, good liaison with PTA. Posts at entrance were removed to avoid damage on entry. Reinstated on Monday following display and are now secure. All rubbish was picked up and skip removed. Minimal damage to grass, replaced with new turf.
Date of next meeting to be notified.

 

 

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Orpen Hall Car Park Finished

Resplendent in the evening sun today the Hall car park appears transformed from its former pot-holed and generally dishevelled appearance of late.  Groupbridge  our doughty and endlessly accommodating contractor has departed leaving only the portaloo as evidence of the workforce and equipment which has been a feature of the car park over the past 6 weeks.

Over the summer holidays the following work has been carried out:

  • Old surfacing scraped off and potholes filled in
  • Surface levelled and prepared to form the hidden (but essential) base-course of the parking area
  • New kerbing has been laid to the perimeter
  • Two new soakaways have been installed to take drained rainwater away out of harm’s way
  • French drains have been installed for water to percolate through to the edges
  • New drains installed and pipework fitted
  • New blacktop course laid to the entire car park
  • Planting areas prepared
  • Cycle stands installed
  • Ramps installed to some hall entrances
  • 44 regular car parking spaces marked out together with4 disabled spaces and a loading bay
  • Access to adjacent areas of the Muga and football pitch created and protected from encroachment

Some of these features are shown in the slide show.

All this has been achieved with minimal inconvenience to hall and Lorkin Daniell field users. There are one or two “snagging areas” to revisit in the coming weeks and planting areas will be planned for landscaping activities (both hard and soft landscaping will be employed).

The Parish Council would like to reiterate its thanks to: Groupbridge  (especially Chris Souter the Project Manager)  our excellent contractor, to Doldens  our designers and contract managers, to nearby residents and hall and Lorkin Daniell field users. Especial thanks also go to Essex County Council for their generous grant of £12,000.

As the lead for the Parish Council on this work I would like to thank the following for their assistance. Firstly my fellow Cllrs on the PC project team Bob Tyrell, Andrew Savage and Brian Butcher, as well as those who assisted with co-ordination, namely the Hall Administrator Vicky Beckwith-Cole, the Chair of the Environment Committee Phil Walby and last but by no means least our PC Chair John Gill-Ross whose almost daily inspections towards the end of the project ensured we picked up many of the users’ needs, using his long experience of the way the community interacts with the hall and environs.

I hope the community makes good use of the car park over the coming months and years. I hope readers will agree with me that the work has been transformative.

Chris Stevenson, Chair of Planning and Development Committee – 10th September 2014.
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Black-top on at Orpen Hall car park

New tarmac on Orpen hall car park
New tarmac at Orpen Hall car park

The Orpen Hall Car Park resurfacing project is nearing completion and will be finished by the end of August, leaving the area spick and span and ready for the more intensive day to day usage which will resume in the autumn.

Over the past week a new black- top macadam surface has been laid which neatly complements the extensive repairs to the car park foundations, hall entrance treatments, kerbing and drainage work which has been going on since the end of July.

White-lining next step

The remaining work to be completed in the coming days includes white lining the car park area to show clearly where users may park and unload. It will also include disabled and cycle parking areas. There will be tidying up activities of course to remove excess debris, materials and the contractors plant and equipment.

Planting to follow

Following the completion of the works there will be a planting scheme drawn up for the new planting areas adjacent to the hall itself.

Parking Spaces

There have been some comments about the amount of parking that will be available after the works, and the access arrangements to the hall entrances. Approximately 40 marked spaces will be available together with a loading bay, 7 disabled spaces and parking for bicycles.  Access to the MUGA area, hall entrances, emergency access points, have all been enhanced such that they are not blocked off in the future by parked cars while the hall is in use.  This was a key feature of the design and indeed a fire and safety assessment pointed out the lack of ramps to some of the access points.

Thanks to residents & users

The Parish Council would like to thank hall users for their forbearance during these works.  Most of the time at least some parking has been available, however it won’t be long until the whole car park is available once more.  We won’t be doing this again for at least another 30 years so any inconvenience is over for a while!