News Update – the Voter ID Edition

Voter ID, Roadworks & Odd Smells

First, Voter ID, but if you want to skip to A12 Roadworks starting on 4th February, click this link. If you want to see where all upcoming roadworks are visit this page on our website. If you are wondering what the unusual smell is click this link.

Photographic Voter ID Now Required

The Council Elections taking place on 4th May 2023 will be the first at which registered electors will need to show an approved Photo ID in order to vote. If you don’t have a valid ID you can apply for a free Voter ID Card.

Your Photo ID doesn’t have to still be ‘in date’ as long as it still looks like you so expired Passports etc… can still be used.

September 25, 2022September 25, 2022

Environment & Highways 8th September 2022

Highlights of Environment & Highways Meeting on 8th September 2022

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 8th September 2022 with topics including:

Cessation of Highways Devolution project,
Parking signs at Poor’s Land,
Blocked gullies & Hillhouse Wood footpaths needing to be attended by ECC,
Repairs undertaken to the Beacon and handymen’s truck, and
A few items relating to trees, hedges and bracken.

Environment Committee Minutes

September 20, 2022September 20, 2022

The “Back to Normal” News Update

Back to Normal

As the nation gets back to normal routines, it’s time to catch up on some local news. Click the links to the updates that interest you:

Councillor Lewis Barber appointed to Team Colchester panel – they need your input by 2nd October;
Love Your Library Day – themed on the environment;
Silver Sunday – another Libraries Service event celebrating older people;
Online Language Learning – over 110 available, where are you holidaying next?
Chapel Lane Road Closure;
With Colder weather coming, is your chimney ready for it?
All you need to know about applying for secondary school places for year sixes.

Colchester City Centre Masterplan

September 11, 2022September 11, 2022

Essex Lights – A History Club Talk

Essex Lights – Guiding Seafarers

Essex Lights featuring image of the Dovercourt Low lighthouse

The next Local History Group meeting will learn about Essex Lights of which there are many. From Harwich, down the coast and into the Thames Estuary. Peter Jones will be presenting the history of these Lighthouses in the Orpen Hall on Wednesday 14th September at 7:30 pm.

Members cost is £2 and non-members £4 which includes refreshments.

Other talks coming up inlcude:

Steve Pollington talking about Sutton Hoo, and
Norman Jacobs on the topic of Colchester 1880-1980.

Spring & Summer Events

The Group’s last meeting in Orpen Hall on April 13th, was to hear about the history of the Minories in Colchester. This Grade II listed building is believed to have been built in the Tudor period but with subsequent modifications, in mid-18th century, turning it into the elegant Georgian building you see today.

August 28, 2022March 5, 2023

Road Closures & Fear of Crime

Fear of Crime

Colchester Borough Council have launched a ‘Fear of Crime’ survey. They are keen to understand people’s feelings around public safety, and whether residents have either been a victim of, or fear becoming a victim of crime. Fear of Crime means different things to different people, this could include:

not feeling safe in the community,
fear of burglary, or
possible violent or physical harm.

The survey takes about 10 minutes of your time to complete and will help them learn about experiences in the area. The survey is open until 19th September.

Fear of Crime Survey – Colchester Borough Council.

Road Closures

There are two upcoming road closures:

Newbridge Hill – 11th September, and
New Church Road – 22nd September

More details below:

July 27, 2022July 27, 2022

Chitts Hill & Chapel Road Closures

The next few weeks will see Chitts Hill closed for through traffic twice and Chapel Road just once. All dates are indicative and may vary according to operational needs. The following are in date order, but in inverse order of severity.

Chitts Hill – 28th July

Map locating two closures at Chitts Hill and diversion route

This closure is to permit Openreach to complete some works. Chitts Hill will be closed from its’ junction with Argents Lane in a southerly direction for around 170m. The recommended diversion route is via Argents lane, Spring Lane and Halstead Rod (or, of course, vice versa).

July 12, 2022July 27, 2022

Essex Way Photo Competition

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Essex Way, CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Essex is launching a photographic competition; everyone is invited to join.

CPRE Essex played a leading role in bringing about this beautiful 81-mile walk from Epping to Harwich. There can be no better way of acclaiming its joys than sharing pictures of it.

You are invited to take shots of landscapes, buildings, people… whatever takes your fancy as long as your images are taken on the Essex Way.

Age Groups & Prizes

July 12, 2022July 12, 2022

Essex Libraries Summer 2022 Update

Essex Libraries have three updates for Summer 2022 covering:

for those with kids starting primary school,
who knew, you can recycle used ink cartridges and more in Libraries,
Book Groups, and
their Summer Reading Challenge (starts this weekend).

Is your child starting primary school?

April 22, 2022April 22, 2022

Annual Parish Meeting – 27th April 2022

Will you be attending on 27th April 2022?

Taking place on 27th April 2022, the Annual Parish Meeting is not a Parish Council Meeting, but a meeting for electors of the parish.

It is an opportunity to discuss parish affairs and say what matters to you. Members of the public and press are welcome to attend.

The meeting will commence at 7:30 pm, on Wednesday 27th April 2022, in the Orpen Memorial Hall. Light refreshments will be provided. The Agenda for this year’s meeting, which will be chaired by Councillor Chris Stevenson, Chairman of the Parish Council, is:

Welcome and Introduction from the Chairman
Parish Council Annual Report 2022 & unaudited Trust Accounts 2021-22 (10 mins)
Heathlands School (Joseph Fielder)
New Headteacher of Heathlands Primary School (10 mins)
Age Well (Emma Barrow)
Services & contacts available from Age Well (previously Age Concern) (10 mins)
Jane Gardner
Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex (15 mins)
Parish Council Grant Awards
Friends of St Mary’s Old Church
Active Essex
Find Your Active presentation (5 mins)
Tim Simpson (Essex County Council)
Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Drainage Manager (15 mins)
Robert Strathern
Innovative farming methods at Fairfield Crisps (10 mins)
Issues from the Floor – Have your say

It would be helpful if you could notify the Clerk in advance if you have any matters to raise during the Issues from the Floor item. Email to [email protected].

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021

NHS Declares Major Incident

Major Incident declared by NHS

The NHS has declared a major incident in relation to the administration of the COVID 19 booster vaccine. They will use a number of venues to ramp-up vaccinations, including

vaccination centres (existing and new);
local pharmacies;
PCNs (GPs);
Hospital Hubs,
Pop up centres,
drive-thru facilities (probably in unused retail parks e.g. B&Q Hythe), and
an outreach programme to large business premises.

However, the NHS desperately needs volunteers to help ensure the smooth running of the new and old vaccination clinics. Please contact Community360, who will be supporting this aspect of the vaccination roll out, if you are interested. Telephone 01206 505250 or email [email protected].