Casual Vacancy for a Parish Councillor

Would you like to become a Parish Councillor?

AI generated image to represent a Parish Council Meeting on 28th May 2025

We announced on 30th May that a ‘casual vacancy’ has arisen for a new Parish Councillor. Since then there has been no request from electors for a formal election and so the Parish Council is now able to appoint a new councillor by ‘co-option’. If you are interested in applying for this role and are:

Passionate about community,
A good communicator,
Forward thinking,
Willing to learn & undertake training,
Respectful of others’ opinions
Eligible.

… it could be you that we are looking for. If you want to find out more about how we work you could either:

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025

Resonate Choir at St Mary’s Old Church 6th July

Free Concert at St Mary’s Old Church with Resonate

Once again, following their visit last July, The Resonate Choir will be performing at St. Mary’s Old Church on Sunday, July 6th at 4 pm. This free event, hosted by the Friends of St. Mary’s Old Church, promises a truly unique and enjoyable musical experience for all ages.

💳 Admission is free – Donations (cash or card) are warmly welcome and will go directly toward preserving this historic church.

🥂 Complimentary refreshments and free parking available on-site.

Resonate Choir

RESONATE is a passionate collective of singers originally formed within a world music choir in Colchester. With over 15 years of shared musical experience, they’ve branched out to embrace a richly varied repertoire that spans continents and cultures:

June 27, 2025July 1, 2025

St Mary’s News – The Summer Edition

AI generated abstract image to reflect the idea of the Taste of Summer in a church context.

The Taste of Summer & Other News From St Mary’s

This month’s news starts with Revd Heather’s ‘Taste of Summer’ message. Following this, you can find out about events including:

Spotlight on Safeguarding,
Church Flowers,
July & August Events, and

… the usual listings of services & contacts.

The Taste of Summer

Popping into the supermarkets at this time of the year, we are often met by signs which say something along the lines of ‘The taste of summer’, which have all been hung strategically in aisles full of foods suitable for picnics on the beach and BBQ’s in our gardens, outdoor, social gatherings with friends and family.

What is it?

So what is the taste of summer? I guess it’s fresh salads, ice cream, BBQ with the hint of charcoal as an added extra, all washed down with our favourite ice-cold drinks. These are the foods that the supermarkets hope will evoke the image of long hot summer days.

June 24, 2025June 25, 2025

Environment & Highways – 12th June 2025

Image for decoration only on topic of environment for committee minutes on 12th June 2025

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 12th June 2025 with topics including:

Election of Chair & Vice-Chair of the committee,
Handymen’s report including:
- Protection of the drain cover on the Heath during mowing,
- Fly-tipping, &
- Usual grass cutting & ongoing village maintenance.
Noting that work is to commence on the Practice Goal are.

Read the official minutes

Environment & Highways Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 12th June 2025 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

June 21, 2025June 24, 2025

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting – 28th May 2025

A brief summary of key elements of the Annual meeting of the Parish Council on 28th May 2025. At this meeting they:

Elected a Chair & Vice Chair,
Heard from City Councillor Naylor about:
- City Council organisation,
- Progress on Local plan, and
- Local Government Reorganisation,
Appointed Responsible Financial Officer & committee & working party members,
Reviewed a number of Policy & other documents,
Established meeting dates for the rest of this financial year,
Noted seven planning applications which were supported, and agreed a recommendation to refuse another, and
Noted the Internal Audit report and agreed the Annual Governance documents.

Read the official minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting

Annual Meeting of the Parish Council Minutes

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025

Romans under Essex County Hospital

The Friends of St Mary’s present a talk on the archaeological dig at Essex County Hospital

Drawings of coins found under the Essex County Hospital

Archaeological excavations at the Essex County Hospital site in Colchester have been ongoing for the past five years. During this time, archaeologists from the Colchester Archaeological Trust have revealed a complex Roman site with evidence for burial, occupation and industry spanning the duration of the Roman period. The trust uncovered the remains of the major Roman road leading to the western gate of the walled town (the Balkerne Gate) in the north-western corner of the site.

June 2, 2025June 2, 2025

Essex Bus Survey 2025

The Essex County Council’s online Essex Bus Survey 2025 will be open to responses from Monday 2nd to Monday 30th June. The purpose of the survey is to gather public opinions on the bus services in Essex and identify ways to improve them to encourage more people to use buses. They want to hear from both current bus users and non-users to understand how they can attract more people to use bus services in the future.

Face-to-face

There will also be teams conducting face-to-face surveys between 16th – 27th June at the following locations:

Basildon,
- Railway station / Bus Station – 21/6, 23/6, 24/6, 27/6.
- University Hospital – 16/6, 18/6, 20/6, 21/6, 25/6, 27/6.
Billericay,
- Railway Station – 17/6, 20/6, 25/6, 26/6, 27/6, 28/6.
Chelmsford,
- Railway station / Bus station – 16/6, 17/6, 19/6, 21/6, 23/6, 26/6
Colchester,
- Osbourne Street – 17/6, 19/6, 20/6, 21/6, 23/6, 24/6.
Harlow
- Town centre/Railway station – 17/6, 19/6, 21/6, 25/6.

What Services?

If you are not a frequent user of local bus services you can find out more about them here on this site.

Public Transport in AI generated style of Constable

May 30, 2025May 29, 2025

Parish Council Vacancy

The Parish Council would like to thank Manya Barrow for her contribution, in particular her work on both the Environment & Hall Committees, and wishes her well as she leaves the council.

The Official “Notice of Casual Vacancy”

Notice is hereby given under Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 that Manya Barrow has ceased to be a member and a casual vacancy exists in the office of Councillor for West Bergholt Parish Council.

May 28, 2025May 29, 2025

St Mary’s News – The Joyful June Edition

Joyful June & Other News From St Mary’s

This month’s news starts with Revd Emma’s Joyful June message. Following this, you can find out about events including:

Prayer Spaces for Heathlands School,
Café @ St Mary’s,
Eco Matters – Creation Event,
Christian Aid Thank You,
July events, and

… the usual listings of services & contacts.

Joyful June

June has a way of lifting our spirits. The days stretch out like a cat in the sun, flowers burst into colour, and the scent of BBQs and freshly cut grass fills the air. It’s the month where nature seems to throw a garden party—and we’re all invited.

There’s something wonderfully hopeful about June. The Bible tells us:

May 24, 2025May 24, 2025

Environment & Highways – 15th May 2025

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 15th May 2025 with topics including:

Handymen’s Report including:
- VE Day 80th Anniversary Preparations,
- Seasonal Maintenance,
- Fixing the drain cover on the Heath, and
- Remedial work on the new storage hut.
Discussion about dangerous reversing/turning into Heathlands entrance and investigating the need for a barrier of some form,
Review of the VE Day 80th Anniversary celebrations, and
Inconsiderate driving/speeding in Hall Road.

Read the official minutes below.

Environment & Highways Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 15th May 2025 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

Members present:	David Short (DS) Harry Stone (HS), Manya Barrow (MB) present and John Gili-Ross (JGR) remotely.
Also present:	1 member of the public