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Category: local services

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Draft Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Starts

Logo of the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan projectDraft Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Starts
Make Sure You Have Your Say!

Major consultation starts on matters which will affect our village and parish for the next 15 years

Following on from the publication of the preferred option for Colchester’s Local plan, the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group is holding its own consultation. This autumn, starting on 5th October and extending until the end of November, a major consultation on the draft Neighbourhood Plan for West Bergholt will take place.

The consultation will take the form of:

  • A summary leaflet on the main points of interest in the Neighbourhood Plan.
  • Release of the draft Neighbourhood Plan document.
  • A questionnaire.
  • Meetings as required but including the October and November Parish Council meetings

To find out more and to view the consultation material listed above please visit our Neighbourhood Plan pages, so, to get started visit some of the main webpages listed below:

draft-neighbourhood-plan-consultationExhibition

Residents and Businesses are urged to visit the exhibition and read the consultation during the next few weeks to view:

  • Possible locations for new housing and sports facilities.
  • A range of community initiatives and projects we may want to see fulfilled.
  • Policies we may adopt to guide our planning and response to planning applications.

Take time to read the full document, the various consultation summaries, exhibition material and participate in the accompanying survey. This is the last of the informal consultations which will take place. After this our plan has to take its chances in the rarefied atmosphere of statutory planning examinations, including a referendum in due course, before it can declared a “statutory” plan.

As Chris Stevenson, Chairman of the Steering Group says:

It has been my pleasure to lead a group of extremely motivated people, whose concerted effort has been to bring us to this point in the process. Make their day and mine by helping us over the line – by all means challenge us and argue with our findings but do so from the point of making the plan even better than it is. Above all participate!

This is a pivotal point in our history. Never before has national and local government actually asked us to prepare our own plan to cover the next 15 years – let’s make the most of this opportunity!

Chris Stevenson
Chairman West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan steering Group
Chairman West Bergholt Parish Council

 

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New Speeding & Parking Initiative

Speeding & parking initiative using TrygveNew Speeding & Parking Initiative

Following the recent Traffic Safety Group meeting, a new initiative has been launched to help reduce parking & speeding issues in and around West Bergholt. Based on a free community safety App, Trygve, users can share and receive local incident information in real time.  This information can be as detailed as you want including pictures and GPS location but should always include:

  • Date.
  • Time.
  • Where (did it happen).
  • What (was the issue).

Using the App will allow the group to measure the number of incidents and identify hot spots.

Already in use in many communities in the UK, a Neighbourhood watch coordinator using it in his community has said:

The Trygve interface is easy to understandThe app has not only been good at creating a community, but we have also been able to help with a few incidents of anti-social behaviour and thefts, by being able to pass more information onto police.  It can help map any crime trends, and make users aware of areas they may want to be more alert.

It is an easier and quicker way for the community to communicate with each other as Facebook is not as instant as this app, nor can it use GPS as accurately.  I am proud to co-ordinate our group and use my skills from my job to share more safety tips.

You can download Trygve to Android or iPhone devices; there is also a mobile friendly web-version for other mobiles and devices.

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Traffic Safety Progress

Traffic Safety Progress

Traffic Safety ProgressTraffic Safety Progress

As a result of concerns about the safety of traffic in the village expressed at a recent Parish Council meeting a group consisting of Parish Councillors, Borough Councillors and village residents has been formed and met to consider what actions we can take to improve safety on our roads in the village.  The aim is to produce a plan with a strategy for actions that will be adopted by the Parish Council and lead to residents feeling more safe as they move around the village.

The Parish Council approved a Traffic Safety Plan in September 2012 with the objective of dealing with such issues mainly in the area of the school.  After reviewing progress on this plan the new group hopes to have revised proposals to put to the village for consultation.

You can read the 2012 plan here but in brief the vision was:

The Parish Council has a vision for the future travel environment in the village where walking and cycling become the preferred modes of travel, that traffic levels and parking do not dominate our village and that the safety of adult and child pedestrians remains paramount.

The strategy for achieving the Aims and Objectives of this plan included:

  • Restricting parking.
  • Providing alternatives for parents.
  • Slowing traffic.
  • Improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Reinforcing the school travel plan.

Update on Measures Proposed

Measure

Progress
1. A “Build Out” in New Church Road from the footpath to Mumford Close. Not achieved due to objections from local residents but timed yellow line restriction from pathway instead.
2. “Built up Tables” at each end of New Church Road and School Lane. Not achieved due to objections but red patches painted in road.
3. Yellow zig-zag lines outside school to be extended as far as bend. Timed yellow line restriction added instead.
4. Improved signage on approaches to school. Achieved.
5. New footpath along the edge of Poors Land. Achieved.
6. Car Parks at Orpen Hall, Treble Tile and Church to be made more available for use by parents. Orpen Hall park improved and journey to school made safer at crossing with New Church Road.  Use of Treble Tile agreed and operated for a time but then withdrawn due to misuse by parents.
7. 20 MPH limit in New Church Road. Achieved with enhanced signage to follow.
8. Designated space for disabled parking on Lexden Road. Not achieved.
9. A “Park and Walk” scheme organised by parents. No known progress.
10. Parents who drive to school to be encouraged to operate a voluntary one way system in School Lane. No known progress.
11. The school to review its Travel Plan. Discussions between the school and Parish Council are ongoing.
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Care Network Calls for Volunteer Drivers

Care Network 0300 773 3100

Calling for Volunteer Drivers - Care Network 0300 773 3100Care Network Calls for Volunteer Drivers

New volunteer drivers are needed by the Care Network in order to continue running their local service.  For thirty years now they have been helping those who are not able to get themselves to medical or other important appointments and so need support.

So the future of this valuable service can be secured new volunteers are needed.  Most drivers run about 10 trips a year and are paid expenses.  So, do you enjoy driving and helping others, if so why not join?  Driver are asked to commit no more than they feel they can offer, just to help out when they can.

To join the team call Harry Stone on 241026 or email him at [email protected].

The Care Network is a registered charity and relies on donations to continue running.

 

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Community Broadband update July 2016

WEst Bergholt Community Broadband Group

West Bergholt Community Broadband GroupCommunity Broadband Update July 2016

The Community Broadband Group recently sent a letter to residents, and are now offering further information which requires attention by 1st August.

Better Broadband for West Bergholt

Nearly 4 months ago, after recognising that the availability of broadband services in the West Bergholt area was becoming progressively less satisfactory, Aaron Williams was invited to give a presentation to the Parish Council meeting in April and it was agreed that improvement was essential. As a consequence, presentations were subsequently made by County Broadband, British Telecom Openreach and Voneus, all who are potential providers of alternative solutions.  The Community Broadband Group was established to review presentations that had been made, to consider the options potentially available to the village, and to provide an impartial and considered view of what the Group believes to be in the best interests of the community.

Voneus

The Voneus presentation showed that they offered a solution that would improve the broadband speeds available in the village, but otherwise differed only in minor details from the wireless technology already in use.

BT Openreach

The BT Openreach presentation indicated that they could offer higher broadband speeds by installing “fibre to the cabinet” (FTTC). Although this would improve broadband speeds for the majority of residents, for technical reasons improvement could be limited for those living a distance from the cabinet. BT Openreach would charge residents collectively as much as £50K before carrying out any installation work. Another important consideration is that if this option were to be taken by a significant number of residents, it would almost certainly prevent availability to the village of the latest fibre technology for broadband delivery for many years (if not decades) into the future.

County Broadband

The County Broadband (CB) presentation began with a brief review of how they have served West Bergholt in the past. Around 5 years ago, when no other supplier offered a high speed broadband service, CB provided a service of up to 8mbs based on wireless technology; that speed has progressively increased to 32mbs, although wireless technology still puts a limitation on the extent to which quality can also be improved. CB now plan to install a fibre infrastructure throughout the village (subject to survey) enabling them to offer a broadband service, using “fibre to the home” (FTTH), without any installation charge to the village. Apart from greatly improved quality and reliability, this would bring further advantages; firstly, any connection could have broadband speeds of up to 1000mbs and secondly that, once installed, a fibre network is effectively a future proofed technology with almost unlimited capacity for future upgrades.

Best Interests of the Village

After careful consideration of the options available to the village from Voneus, BT Openreach and County Broadband, the Group has unanimously agreed that the best interest of the whole village is most effectively served by supporting County Broadband’s Fibre to the Home project, although the Group supports the right of all residents to make their own choice of provider. The Group considered a number of reasons for its conclusion but believes that three key facts justify its view.

  • FTTH is the best and most future-proofed technology for broadband delivery
    available anywhere in the UK.
  • County Broadband requires no financial contribution from the village
  • County Broadband has the lowest entry level pricing at £10 per month for
    broadband and £6 for an optional phone service.

Should you not wish to take advantage of the service from County Broadband now, the existing BT Openreach service would still be available.  The County Broadband system would then be available to you at a future date.

For further information, please contact [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

Signed       Roly Buss
Chairman – West Bergholt Community Broadband Group

Further Information

Clarification

In the letter by ‘without any installation charge to the village’ it was referring to County Broadband requiring no funding contribution from the village as a whole.   After the 1st of August the zero installation fee (to the individual subscriber) period is due to end.

Full Assessment

All residents were sent a copy of the letter as shown above.  It provides a summary of the groups discussions and its conclusion.  A full assessment document, which will contain more detail such as pros and cons, will only be published shortly but only electronically  due to its length & detail.

The Broadband Group’s constitution

The following link is to a PDF file:

Who are we?

Members

  • Roly Buss MBE – Chairman.  Former BT Health and Safety Officer.  Satellite broadband & BT landline.
  • Phillip Edwards – Secretary.  Former BT Retail Marketing Manager.  BT Broadband & BT landline.
  • Robin Bailey – Former logistics executive.  County Broadband & BT landline.
  • Aaron Williams – Technology Enthusiast.  County Broadband.  No landline.
  • Anthony Wootton – Former I.T. professional.  County Broadband & VoIP landline.
  • Gary Steers – Internet Technical expert.  Works in the village.

Advisor

Murray Harlow – Communications Parish Councillor.

Former Member

Chris Davies – Withdrew due to other commitments.

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Broadband Update July 2016 – What Options?

Broadband Update July 2016 – What Options?

Background

First of all, the Parish Council held an extended Parish Council meeting at the end of April to review all the options open to us. Aaron Williams gave an excellent presentation and consequently meetings have been held with many ‘players’. These meetings with County Broadband, Voneus, BT Openreach and Essex County Council means the position about better broadband in the village is becoming a little clearer.

Here is a snapshot of the current position:

Continue reading “Broadband Update July 2016 – What Options?”

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Passenger Transport Survey

Passenger Transport Survey poster

Passenger Transport Survey posterPassenger Transport Survey

Essex County Council is a major funder of local passenger transport services including:

  • providing transport for over 20,000 children to travel to mainstream and special need schools each day.
  • providing transport for children in care, older people and people with learning disabilities and physical or sensory impairments.
  • supporting around 15% of local bus services in the County including many evening, rural and Sunday buses that are socially necessary but loss-making and so need funding support.

Continue reading “Passenger Transport Survey”

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June Broadband Update

June Broadband Update

This update reports on the recent meeting with Voneus, announces upcoming meetings with BT Openreach and Superfast Essex and also updates on the County Broadband situation and the Community Broadband Group.

Next Broadband Meeting

A representative from BT Openreach will hold a meeting to explain an outline proposal to bring broadband to the village. This meeting will be held on 24th of June 7pm at the Orpen Hall. Continue reading “June Broadband Update”

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Better Broadband News Update

Left in the cold
Part of presentation to PC in April

Hunt for Better Broadband warms up

Hopefully you will have seen the recent news item and/or the presentation given at last month’s Parish Council meeting.  There are a number of possible options available to the village for Better Broadband from a range of service providers.  Of these County Broadband and Voneus are already actively looking to engage the village with their proposed plans by both direct mailing and local meetings.

Continue reading “Better Broadband News Update”