Category: essex council

Posted on

Essex & Colchester Updates – July 2015

Essex & Colchester News updates – July 2015

This is a summary of a number of recent announcements made by Essex & Colchester Councils during July 2015:

Listen to council meetings how and when you want

A new audio webcasting system is now in place streaming live from some of our council meetings and debates, available through our website and twitter feed, or you can choose to catch up later.

Links to the audio are from the ‘Your Council’ tab of essex.gov.uk with recordings available alongside meeting details and agendas. You can jump straight to a specific agenda item if that’s all you want to hear again.The Full Council meeting broadcast is planned for 14 July and committees of the council have also started to come online. Look out for tweets with links to the audio stream at the beginning of each meeting on the @ECC_DemSer twitter feed.

top

Transparency on calls to ECC’s Contact Centre

Telephone calls to Essex County Council’s Contact Centre now start with a recorded message about call charges. This follows new legislation introduced by the communications regulator Ofcom and the Advertising Standards Authority for 084, 087,09 and 118 numbers, as part of the national UK Calling scheme.

Callers to the Contact Centre on all 0845 numbers are informed that calls cost 5p per minute plus the access charge from respective service providers.

top

Essex ahead on pothole repairs

Road rollerThe number of unrepaired potholes on county roads has fallen.

In the three months leading to June 30, unrepaired potholes and carriageway defects on the county’s busiest roads have reduced by 70 and 75 per cent respectively, compared with the same period last year.

According to Essex County Council figures, potholes and other carriageway defects were maintained at under 350, with 137 on the county’s busiest roads and 206 on main and key roads.

Outstanding carriageway defects on local roads have also fallen over the same period, from 5,212 to 4,626, with 2,581 potholes repaired, continuing the positive trend seen over the previous three months.

Since the same period last year, carriageway defects on local roads are down by 23 percent, from 6,001 to 4,626.

To report a pothole or carriageway defect visit http://www.essexhighways.org/tell-us-pothole.aspx.

top

Have a summer holiday to remember with Essex Outdoors

Essex outdoorsEssex Outdoors exciting 2015 summer holiday programme for 8-16 year olds has been released. Centres in Bradwell, Danbury, Harlow and Mersea will be running School Holiday Activity Days, which include up to four activities in one day, between 23 July and 28 August.

Activities include aerial trekking, archery, bouldering, BMX, canoeing, caving, climbing, kayaking, low ropes, orienteering, zip wire and much, much more. Harlow is running additional climbing days as well as canoe and kayak days between 23 July and 28 August, with Bradwell also running a canoe day on 18 August.

Activity days are the perfect way for children and young people to try the challenge and excitement of new activities. Activity days cost £30 per day or buy four days and get the fifth free.

Dates, times and activities vary per centre so please check the website for full details or contact your nearest centre.

top

Aiming High for Disabled Children – summer programme

Essex Outdoors will be running the ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children’ programme this summer. The programme offers a range of day and overnight activities for free to disabled children and young people who are aged 8 to 18, as well as their carer.

The programme includes:

  • Activity days at Harlow from 24 July to 28 August
  • Activity days at Danbury on 28 and 30 July
  • Sailing/crabbing day at Bradwell on 25 July
  • One night break in either Bradwell or Danbury on 15 August.
  • Mersea Island Festival overnight (five nights from 23 August)
  • Mersea Island Festival day visits from 25 to 30 August

Please note participants must live within the administrative boundary of Essex County Council to qualify for free places. For eligibility as well as dates, times and activities per centre please check the website.

top

Family fun at Bark in the Park

Bark in the parkJoin us at this special dog themed fun day for dogs and their owners on Sunday 9 August in Colchester’s Castle Park.

Bark in the Park will transform the open space in Colchester’s park into a dog and dog owner’s extravaganza.  This event, led by Colchester Borough Council’s Animal Control Team, will offer everything man’s best friend needs.

There will be plenty to keep the whole family (and their dogs) amused throughout the day and visitors are assured of a great day out.  Owners will also have the chance to enter their pet pooches into the various dog show events that will take place during the day.

Dog Show Categories

  • Best Young Handler
  • Smiliest Staffy
  • Most Gorgeous Rescue
  • Handsomest Dog
  • Prettiest Bitch
  • Calmest Tail
  • Best Trick
  • Overall Best in Show

 There will be entertainment and demos, competitions and prizes, K9 Aqua Sports, dog agility, doggie trade stands and much more! Make sure you register online (for free) to enter one of the seven pet Dog Shows on the day!  Find out more here.

top

Have you watched CBC’s latest video?

A brand new tourism video promoting Colchester has been created to showcase everything that the Borough has to offer! If you haven’t had a chance to watch it on their YouTube channel yet, then here it is:

top

Posted on

Summer Reading Challenge 2015

Guinness World RecordsSummer Reading Challenge 2015

Help make this a record breaking summer

Every year the national Summer Reading Challenge aims to keep the country’s children reading throughout the holidays and as this year’s theme is ‘Record Breakers’, Essex Libraries wants as many pledges of support as possible to set a new Guinness World Record™ for ‘the most number of pledges received for a reading campaign’, and to contribute to an Essex record.

Children pledge to visit their local library, read six books of their choice and collect stickers in six categories to secure medals. Adults and volunteers pledge to support children to read. Older children can take part in a reading and arts programme called ImagiNation.

Councillor Roger Hirst, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Libraries, Planning and the Environment said:

Getting more children to read for pleasure during the summer holidays will be a fantastic achievement. This record attempt will be used to highlight the importance of reading for pleasure as well as the importance of libraries in communities. I want to see Essex playing its part in creating this new world record.

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by The Reading Agency in association with Guinness World Records™ and delivered by libraries, bringing together fact and fiction and helping young readers to discover some wonderful and truly amazing records from around the world.

Record Breakers and ImagiNation run from 11 July to Saturday 5 September in all Essex libraries and mobile libraries.

Note – the Mobile Library’s next visits are scheduled for 21st July, 4th August, 18th August and 1st September visiting Albany Road, Lexden Road, Queens Road & Chapel Road on each of those afternoons.

Posted on

Latest News from Essex County Council

ECC-NewsLatest News from Essex County Council

Burning questions

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service wants your views on how it keeps you safe in your home and community.

Residents are being urged to have their say in the future redesign of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS), through a 12 week consultation that starts today (Monday June 15) and ends on Sunday September 6.

The consultation process, the main element of the Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), aims to address several key issues impacting on the fire service such as the declining number of call-outs and the need to increase the focus on preventing fires and emergencies from happening.

It will also look at major issues such as response times, and the ambitious target of having a working smoke alarm in every Essex home.

Have your say here.

If you’re happy and you know it

Baby and Toddler Rhymetime veteran volunteer Peter Cave is 91 and is living proof you are never too old to volunteer; Peter Cave has been volunteering at the Baby and Toddler Rhymetime session at Chelmsford Library since earlier in the year and intends to carry on his sterling singing and storytelling role after he turns 91 – why not get involved yourself?

Better service, same price

Frozen prices, more options and an improved Meals on Wheels service is coming your way.  Essex County Council (ECC) took a decision that will see prices for Meals on Wheels frozen and the service improved, following today’s Cabinet meeting.  As part of the decision, a one year extension has been agreed to the county’s existing Meals on Wheels service.

Get exploring!

Go on an adventure in one of our country parks and send us a picture from your trip to win free parking for six months!

Colchester Local Highways Panel funding

Colchester Local Highways Panel (LHP) is set to benefit from a £1million boost which will enable a variety of small highways schemes to get underway.  Essex County Council is allocating the funding to Colchester LHP for 2015/16.

Projects will include upgrading the public footpath near Wivenhoe railway station to provide disabled access, building a new wooden bus shelter on St Ives Road in Peldon and pedestrian crossing improvements on Plume Avenue in Prettygate.

Posted on

Essex News update – May 22nd 2015

Essex County CouncilEssex News update – May 22nd 2015

Essex County Council has issued the following news update covering half term events, their Let’s Get Moving scheme promoting healthier lifestyle, Foster Care fortnight,  Small Grants Scheme update and grass verge trimming:

Have an action-packed half term with Essex County Council

Join in the fun at our huge range of action-packed activities for children of all ages this half term. From canoeing to a dinosaur recycling day, there is something for everyone (and all weathers!) taking place near you at Country Parks, Essex Libraries, Essex Outdoors centres and Hadleigh Park Mountain Bike Centre –  some activities are free!

Date Activity Location Cost
Saturday 23 May Nature Club. Monthly club for children aged 7 to 11. Danbury Country Park £3 per child
Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 May Magical Mysteries Trail. Have fun exploring and experiencing the woods, enjoying the magic and mystery. Thorndon Park South £3 per trail guide
Animal Detective Trail. Work out which animals have been visiting the park and what they’ve done. Belhus Woods Country Park £3 per trail guide
Monday 25 May Iron Age Roundhouse open afternoon. Hadleigh Park Free
Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May Activity Days. Try four outdoors adventure activities in a day. Essex Outdoors at Danbury, Harlow and Mersea £30 per child a day (buy four days get fifth free)
Tuesday 26 May Nature Rangers Event. Wickford Library Free
Essex Summer Evening Series – Travers Bikes. Mountain bike race. Hadleigh Park £13 Senior Riders, £8 Under 16 (£2 extra if you need a day license)
Climbing Day. Essex Outdoors at Harlow £30 per child
Activity Day. Essex Outdoors at Bradwell £30 per child
Wednesday 27 May Wild Wednesday Danbury Country Park Free
Pirate and Princess Treasure Trail. Pick up a treasure map and lead yourselves through the woods. Come in costume. Thorndon Park South £4 per child
Kite making. Make your own kite, then test it in the park. Belhus Woods Country Park Free
Canoeing and Kayaking. Essex Outdoors at Harlow £30 per child
Survival for Softies: Make a shelter and light a fire. Cook your lunch on your own campfire. Hadleigh Park £7 per child
Wednesday 27 May and Thursday 28 May Jester School. Juggling skills, jester themed crafts, scratch art magnet, make a mask/hat or follow the trail. Cressing Temple £7.50 per child
Thursday 28 May Climbing Day. Essex Outdoors at Harlow £30 per child
Canoe Day. Essex Outdoors at Bradwell £30 per child
Dinosaur Recycling Day. Colchester Library Free
Friday 29 May Canoeing and Kayaking. Essex Outdoors at Harlow £30 per child
Sunday 31 May Birds, Bugs and Blooms. Discover a wealth of plant life and wildlife. Hadleigh Park £4 per adult, £2 per child

Find out more here.

23,000 more people getting active across the county

The Essex Let’s Get Moving schemes aims to get up to 23,000 residents leading healthier lifestyles. Starting in a week’s time in the West of the county, we’ve got physical activity experts lined up and ready to help people benefit from getting more active. Support on offer includes one-to-one sessions with exercise professionals, community activities and peer-led group sessions.

Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Anne Brown said:

Evidence shows that nearly half of Essex residents do not take part in any sport or recreational activity. We know that inactivity can have a serious impact on people’s health, with an inactive person spending on average 38% more days in hospital than an active person.

More information about Let’s Get Moving can be found here.

Could you be an Essex foster carer?

Could you offer a child a loving home? Foster Care Fortnight kicks off on 1 June, and features a Fostering Fiesta on Sunday 7 June at Danbury Centre for Outdoor Learning. Activities are taking place across Essex where you can meet foster carers and their families and find out more.

Councillor Dick Madden, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:

There are still many myths about who can foster but all that really matters is that carers have the time, commitment, space and personal qualities to offer a secure and stable home to a child or children who have been separated from their birth family.

Find out more about Foster Care Fortnight here. 

Culture benefits from cash boost

Essex Boys and Girls Clubs are the latest group to be awarded a grant of nearly £2,500 for cultural activities, thanks to the Essex Small Grants Scheme. The grant is one of 16 awards worth £30,000 which will benefit 16 culture-based projects.

County Councillor Roger Hirst, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Libraries, Planning and the Environment, said:

Culture in Essex is thriving and it is important that we contribute to it by encouraging and incentivising through grants such as these. I look forward to hearing outcomes from all of the projects that have benefitted during this round of grants.

Read about the other grants awarded here.

Summer grass verge and weed trimming programme begins

Motorists are being asked to be extra careful as Essex County Council begins its summer roadside grass verge cutting programme.  Grass verges on all of Essex’s priority routes are cut to improve safety and the appearance of the highway. The cutting programme includes verges next to footways and roads, as well as central reservations and sightlines at junctions. Around 6,100 miles of verge will be cut throughout the programme.

Posted on

Road Closures February 2015

Essex County CouncilRoad Closures February 2015

Essex Highways Department have announced a large list of road closures affecting large parts of the Colchester & Braintree areas from 9th February.  The Temporary Closure Notice states that:

The closures are scheduled to commence within 18 months from 09 February 2015 or where appropriate signs are showing and weather permitting, and are required for the safety of the public and workforce while highway maintenance works are undertaken. Exact dates of the road closures will be notified via advanced warning signage on sites. Letters to residents and other affected or interested parties advising of the works/dates and other relevant information will also be sent out at least 2 weeks in advance.

Those closures where the diversion route crosses over into another County or use the A12 and A120 are subject to the approval of the relevant County Council or the Highways Agency.

Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure.

The Order will come into effect on 09 February 2015 and may continue in force for 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

The following appear to be those ‘closest to home’ but the best advice seems to be to look out for the yellow advance warning signs!

Roads Detail of Closure Diversion
Chitts Hill, West Bergholt Between its junctions with Halstead Road and Argents Lane Halstead Road, A1124 Halstead Road, Spring Lane, Argents Lane and vice versa.
A1124 Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green Between its junctions with Spring Lane and the A12/Essex Yeomanry Way roundabout A12, A120 Coggeshall Road,  A120 Colchester Road, B1024 Colne Road, B1024 Colchester Road, a1124 Colchester Road, A1124 Wakes Street, A1124 Fordstreet and vice versa.
New Church Road, West Bergholt Between its junctions with Lexden Road and Chapel Road Lexden Road, B1508 Colchester Road, Chapel Road and vice versa.
School Lane, West Bergholt Between its junctions with B1508 Colchester Road and New Church Road New Church Road, Chapel Road,B1508 Colchester Road and vice versa.
Newbridge Hill, West Bergholt Between its junctions with Argents Lane and Lexden Road Argents Lane, Spring Lane, A1124 Halstead Road, A12, a113 Cymbeline Way, Colne Bank Avenue, West Way, B1508 Bergholt Road, B1508 Braiswick, B1508 Colchester Road, Chapel  Road and vice versa.
Whitehouse Lane, West Bergholt Between its junctions with Newbridge Hill and Bourne Road Newbridge Hill, Bourne Road and vice versa.
Fordham Road/Bergholt Road, Fordham & West Bergholt Between its junctions with Fossetts Lane and B1508 Colchester Road Rams Farm Road, Plummers road, Fordham Road, Packards Lane, B1508 Colchester Road and vice versa.
Cook’s Hall Road, West Bergholt From its junction with Lexden Road to the end of the cul-de-sac No diversion
Chapel Road, West Bergholt Between its junctions with B1508 Colchester Road and Lexden Road B1508 Colchester Road, Lexden Road and vice versa.
Lexden Road, West Bergholt Between its junctions with B1508 Colchester Road and Chapel Road Chapel Road, B1508 Colchester Road and vice versa.
Queen’s Road, West Bergholt Between its junctions with Chapel Road and Bourne Road Chapel Road, Newbridge Hill, Bourne Road and vice versa.
Chapel Lane, West Bergholt Between its junctions with Chapel Road and Bourne Road Chapel Road, Queens Road, Bourne Road and vice versa.
Hall Road, West Bergholt From its junction with B1508 Colchester Road to the end of the cul-de-sac No diversion

You can view the fill list by downloading the formal notice:

Posted on

Essex Energy Switch – 2014/15

Essex Energy SwitchEssex Energy Switch – 2014/15

Essex County Council are running another Energy Switch auction in 2015, register interest now and share the savings that they hope to achieve for residents:

Earlier this year thousands of households and businesses signed up to participate in the Essex Energy Switch. It helped many people reduce their gas and electricity bills at a time of rising energy prices – with an average saving of £200 per year. Essex County Council are now offering residents another chance to make sizeable savings on their gas and electricity bills.

You have from 3rd December 2014 until 2nd February 2015 to register your interest (without any obligation) at www.essex.gov.uk/energyswitch. It is a completely free, easy, safe and secure way to cut your energy bill without wasting valuable time endlessly comparing prices on comparison sites.

Once everybody has registered their interest an auction will take place on 3rd February 2015. The auction works by getting energy companies to bid against each other to offer the lowest rate for gas and electricity contracts.  On 13th February 2015 you will receive an email containing a new gas and electricity offer, valid for one month.  This offer will be calculated using your existing energy usage and costs.

Please be aware that if you have recently changed supplier, the savings may not be as big as for those who haven’t proactively managed their energy supplier.  Only when you receive the offer will you need to decide whether or not to accept.

Cllr. Kevin BentleyCouncillor Kevin Bentley, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Infrastructure, Waste & Recycling and Member for Stanway and Pyefleet on Essex County Council said:

This year we hope that even more residents will benefit from making the switch and to achieve this I urge you to play your part in making residents in your area aware of the Essex Energy Switch whenever you are able to do so.

This is a fantastic opportunity to help householders and SMEs to save money without obligation in a safe, secure and proven manner. I hope that we can all work together to make this a success for residents, businesses and Essex as a whole.

rcce-oil-schemeIf you are not connected to a gas main then Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) has an Oil Buying Scheme for domestic heating oil. It brings communities together to make the most of joint buying power so that significant savings can be made when purchasing oil.  RCCE work with a national network of similar schemes in many other counties.  If you would like to know more about the scheme and the potential saving for households, businesses and community organisations please visit: www.essexrcc.org.uk/oil.

 

Posted on

Lollipops Required

School-Crossing-LollipopSchool Crossing Patrol Officers sought

Essex County Council have vacancies for a number of school crossing patrol officers including in the Colchester area.   ECC are asking you to support your local school by being part of a dedicated team who are valued within your community.  They offer:

  • Good rates of pay,
  • Full training,
  • Uniform & equipment provided,
  • Term time only,
  • Morning & afternoon, up to 2 hours per day.

For more information they ask you to contact the School Crossing Patrol Team on 03330 136687 or by email to [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

Current vacancies

As of 25th September the following vacancies exist:

  • Ghyllgrove Primary – Basildon
  • St Ann Line Inf & Jun schools – Basildon
  • Kingswood Primary – Basildon
  • ST Marys C of E – Kelvedon
  • John Bunyan Inf &Jun Schools – Braintree
  • Brentwood School – Brentwood
  • St Martins Secondary School – Hutton
  • Old Heath Primary – Colchester
  • Kings Road Primary – Chelmsford
  • Kingston Primary – Benfleet
  • Jotmans Primary –Benfleet
  • Perryfields Inf & Jun School – Chelmsford
  • St Michael’s Junior/Galleywood Infant – Galleywood
  • The Cathedral Primary – Chelmsford
  • Melbourne Park Primary – Chelmsford
  • Milldene Primary – Colchester
  • Tiptree Heath Primary – Tiptree
  • Cherry Tree primary – Colchester
  • St Georges New Town inf & jun schools – Colchester
  • Upshire Primary – Epping forest
  • Whitebridge Primary – Loughton
  • The Alderton Primary – Loughton
  • Hare Street Primary – Harlow
  • Pear Tree Mead Primary – Harlow
  • Latton Green Primary – Harlow
  • Lawford Mead Primary – Colchester
  • Holland Park Primary – Holland Park
  • Rolph Primary – Tendring

There are also 4 mobile staff vacancies – these cover Maldon, Braintree, Chelmsford and Brentwood.

Posted on

Are you living with slow Internet speeds?

Slow Internet?

Slow internet connection
Got this?
Fast internet connection
But want this?

Between them Essex County Council (ECC), HMG and BT are prepared to invest nearly £25m improving internet access speeds in those areas of Essex most needing it, their objective is to see minimum download speeds of 2Mbps.  To date only a small proportion or our village is connected to high speed broadband and the remaining residents are living life very much in the slow lane.  If you want to see a share of this £25m delivered to your door then you need to register your concerns because based on the current low-level of response (0.5% of West Bergholt households)  Superfast Essex will not reach us until at least 2016!

What you should do…

Take a speed test to see just how slow your ‘fast lane’ is – try this link – www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics.

Superfast Broadband LogoNext register your interest in high-speed broadband on a special website set up by the ECC/BT Superfast Essex project at www.superfastessex.org.

You can also call or send an email to BT’s Regional Manager for East of England, Annette Thorpe, (contact 020 7778 5853 or [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]), explaining why you feel West Bergholt should be a priority – you might want to make comment about how close we are to Colchester homes receiving much faster service and that incremental costs of adding West Bergholt should be relatively manageable for them under their BDUK contract.

Finally, you can also contact County Broadband, after all they came here when BT wouldn’t, and give them an incentive to consider further investment in upgrading the service we receive, by calling 0845 686 5000.

Posted on

Speedwatch – Surround a Town

Community Speedwatch targeting speeding in our community
Local Community Speedwatch volunteers were involved in the recent Surround a Town event.
Community Wheels Truck
The Community Wheels truck joined Speedwatch teams and others in raising speeding awareness

Essex Highways, Essex Police, Essex Fire & Rescue and local Speedwatch groups joined forces on  5th February with a crack down on speeding motorists.   The results saw a substantial number of interventions including:

  • Road Safety staff gave advice and showed education videos to 81 offenders at enforcement sites.
  • 400+ people on the “community wheels truck” outside the Town Hall with road safety staff and staff from the fire brigade giving advice.
  • 32 drivers were recorded travelling over 36 mph in Langenhoe, Peldon and West Bergolt by Community Speedwatch.
  • 13 speeding drivers spoken to by school children at a child speed watch event outside a school in Colchester.
Other activities included:
  • year six walks conducted by road safety staff to highlight the dangers on the road to year six students.
  • road safety staff in a college to engage with over 50 students about road safety issues.
  • the north Essex parking partnership were patrolling schools to raise awareness of the dangers arising from poor parking outside schools.
Look out for future similar events.
Posted on

Local Bus user – have your say!

Local bus in West BergholtIt’s not too late to have your say on the future of supported local bus services.

As you may be aware, in September the County Council began a major review of its support for local bus services in the County.   The public consultation seeks residents’ and passenger transport customers’ views on local bus services which are supported by the County Council, and their preferences and needs for services in the future.

The consultation has now been ‘live’ for 7 weeks. It’s clear that people care about the future of their individual bus services, however, the Council would like to encourage as many people as possible to take this opportunity to contribute towards the future of local bus services.  It is important the Council has a high level of response from the public so that decisions are made on robust evidence.

The consultation can be accessed online until 9 December 2013.  Paper copies of the consultation are also be available through libraries or by calling 0845 603 7631.

Skip to content