Annual Parish Meeting – 24th April 2024

AI generated image illustrating an Annual Parish Meeting taking place on 24th April 2024

The Annual Parish Meeting takes place on Wednesday 24th April 2024 starting from 7:15pm. The venue, of course, is the Orpen Hall. Free light refreshments are available

Members of the public and press are welcome to attend. The agenda is set out below and will be chaired by Councillor Brian Butcher, Chair of West Bergholt Parish Council.

Copies of the Charitable Trust Accounts for the Orpen Memorial Hall, New Allotments, Lorkin Daniell Field, Poor’s Land and Village Green (Heath), of which the Parish Council is Sole Trustee, will be available to all attending.

Agenda Items

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Environment & Highways – 11th April 2024

Flags for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day were discussed at the 11th April 2024 Environment meeting.

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 11th April 2024 with topics including:

  • D-Day Flags,
  • Handyman update including:
    • litter-picking,
    • grass cutting,
    • work on new shed.
    • purchasing replacement tools,
  • Staffing update,
  • Refurbishment of Practice Goal,
  • Noting that the Pylons consultation is underway and needs contributions, and
  • Possible engagement with Village Fete organisers regarding traffic, health & safety..

Environment Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 11th April 2024 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

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Planning & Development Committee – 4th April 2024

An AI generated image to represent a Planning Committee in the Modern Style

Holding an Extraordinary Meeting on 4th April 2024, the Planning & Development Committee agreed previous minutes before considering a single planning application concerning Barns at Hall Road.

Read the official minutes below:

Planning and Development Committee Extraordinary Meeting

Meeting held on Monday 4th April 2024 at 7.30pm in the John Lampon Hall

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Candidates for May 2024 Elections

Statements of Persons Nominated for 2024 Elections

Elections 2024 City & Police Commissioner

The Returning Officer has advised of the following nominations for these elections:

Lexden & Braiswick Ward – Colchester City Council

Name of CandidateHome AddressDescription (if any)Reason why no longer nominated*
ARMITAGE Sandy(address in Colchester)Labour Party
BAMFORTH Roger Edwin1 Granville Close, Colchester, CO6 3LQGreen Party
STEVENSON Thomas Alun(address in Colchester)Liberal Democrats
WILLETTS DennisThe Retreat, Wood Lane, Fordham Heath, Colchester, CO3 9TRConservative Party Candidate
*Decision of the Returning Officer that the nomination is invalid or other reason why a person nominated no longer stands nominated.

Dated Thursday 5 April 2024
Pam Donnelly
Returning Officer

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for the Essex Area

Name of CandidateHome AddressDescription (if any)Reason why no longer nominated *
FOX Adam Daniel(address in Essex Police Area)Labour and Co-operative Party
FRANKS Kieron Anthony(address in Essex Police Area)Liberal Democrat
HIRST Roger Charles(address in Essex Police Area)The Conservative Party Candidate
TILBROOK Robin Charles WilliamQuires Green, Willingale, Essex, CM5 0QPEnglish Democrats – “More Police – catching criminals!”
*Decision of the Police Area Returning Officer that the nomination is invalid or other reason why a person nominated no longer stands nominated.

Dated Friday 5 April 2024
Pam Donnelly
Police Area Returning Officer

Photo ID Required to Vote

Don’t forget you will need approved photo ID to vote! Check what is acceptable at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id.

Spring Flower & Winter Bird Walks

The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Wood is the Spring Flower Walk

Bluebells likely to be seen on Spring Flower Walk

Following the successful Winter Bird Walk in March (see report below), the next Guided Walk is the annual Spring Flower Walk on Saturday 27th April. Steve Hallam will lead the walk in and near Hillhouse Wood. Previously called the Bluebell Walk, it has become difficult to pick the optimum ‘bluebell’ date for the walk although there will always be plenty of Spring Flowers to see. The walk will start at the Old Church at 2pm.

Other upcoming Friends of Hillhouse Wood activities are:

  • Dawn Chorus Guided Walk on Saturday 18th May, and
  • Stall at the Village Fete on Saturday 6th July.

Winter Birds – Steve Hallam Reports

Of all the guided walks that I lead, the winter bird walk is the most unpredictable. The weather can be variable and off-putting, whilst at this time of year the birds move around looking for food. So, you can be never sure which species you will encounter and whether you will be able see or hear them through the driving rain or howling gale.

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Volunteer of the Year Award 2024

Do you know an outstanding volunteer?

Volunteer of the Year Award

The West Bergholt Volunteer of the Year 2023/24 is a new Community Award. It will be presented to an individual volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the village of West Bergholt, its residents, or just one resident. That person will have demonstrated exceptional commitment to an unpaid activity.

What could it include?

Examples may include;

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St Mary’s News – The Oaks & Acorns Edition

Oaks & Acorns

St Mary’s News – Mighty Oaks & Acorns

This Oaks & Acorns edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Heather’s message about sowing seeds and the relation that has with the Resurrection; it then continues with:

The usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Rev Heather Wilcox

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

It’s that time of year once again, when I, along with many other amateur gardeners, disappear for short periods of time into the sanctuary of my greenhouse and in faith set out row upon row of pots, fill them with compost and then place little tiny seeds into the soil, water them, and then patiently, or not so patiently, wait in anticipation that something will happen.  That by some small miracle, the seed, which to all appearances was lifeless, will spring into life, and ultimately produce a plant, which will go on to produce enough tomatoes, courgettes, butternut squashes, cucumbers, or whatever else has been sown, to keep us well fed with fresh vegetables for several months to come.

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Planning & Development Committee – 18th March 2024

Planning imagined by AI in style of Van Gogh

Meeting on 18th March 2024, the Planning & Development Committee reviewed some actions from the February minutes before considering planning applications.

The committee supported 5 (Nayland Road, Garthwood Close, Colchester Road, Fossetts Lane & Pirie Road), objected to 3 (all in Colchester Road) & commented on 2 (Hall Road & Colchester Road).

Read the official minutes below:

Planning and Development Committee Meeting

Meeting held on Monday 18th March 2024 at 7.30pm in the John Lampon Hall

It is the aim of the Parish Council to seek a high standard of design for all new developments and extensions in the Village.

The Parish Council will take into account the Village Design Statement, the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan, Government National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and CBC Planning Policies when commenting on individual applications.

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Environment & Highways – 14th March 2024

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 14th March 2024 with topics including:

Hall Road pond after silt clearance
  • Handyman update including:
    • grass cutting,
    • litter picking,
    • play equipment inspection,
    • laying foundations for a shed, and
    • storm damage,
  • Works undertaken by Arches Plant Hire on behalf of the Parish Council at Hall Road Pond and
  • The Practice Goal on the Lorkin Daniell Field.

Environment Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 14th March 2024 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

Members present:Cllrs Katie Pulford (KP), David Short (DS), Manya Barrow (MB) and James Owers (JO)
Also present:Two members of the public
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Election Notice – May 2024

Election Notice for Lexden & Braiswick Ward and the Police Fire & Crime Commissioner for May 2024

Register to vote

In the forthcoming elections on Thursday 2nd May City Council and Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner places will be fought.  You can read all the details, how to nominate, timescales etc… in the Election Notices below.

Don’t forget that you will need approved photo ID to vote on 2nd May.

Downloads

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