Community, Parish Council & Village
General news items
The 30th AGM of the Friends of Hillhouse Wood is scheduled for Wednesday, 11th December 2024, at John Lampon Hall within the Orpen Hall Complex on Lexden Road, West Bergholt. The meeting will commence at 7:30 pm, with refreshments available from 7:00 pm. Both members and non-members are invited to attend.
At the end of the formal proceedings there will be the opportunity to raise issues and engage in discussion (whilst finishing the refreshments!)
This month’s news with Revd Heather’s Christmas Message on the Perfect Gift. Following this you can find out abougt:
… the usual listings of services and contacts.
As I write this, it is the 11th November, Remembrance Day. Yesterday in our churches, we remembered, lest we forget, the sacrifice of so many that we might know peace and freedom in our time. But as is always the way, the world is pushing us on, and we are being bombarded by Christmas adverts on the television and through social media. It seems hard to imagine, that we could ever forget that Christmas is coming.
Continue reading “St Mary’s News – The Perfect Gift Edition”
Meeting on 11th November 2024, the Planning & Development Committee first reviewed actions from the previous meeting. These included confirming submission of updates to the Neighbourhood Plan. The committee then discussed 4 applications, variously in Bures Road, Mumford Close, Chapel Road & Scarletts Chase. All four were supported.
Read the official minutes below.
Continue reading “Planning & Development Committee – 11th November 2024”
The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 14th November 2024 with topics including:
Read the official minutes below.
Continue reading “Environment & Highways – 14th November 2024”
The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are holding two events over the coming weeks.
The Friends invite you to join them for Mulled Wine & Mince Pies at St Mary’s Old Church on Sunday, 24th November. This free event runs from 11:30am to 1:30pm and all are welcome! The highlight of the day will be an enchanting performance by Octavia, members of Quire, from 12:30pm to 1pm.
Continue reading “Mulled Wine & Abbey Road”
The Friends will be going on a “fungus hunt” to seek out elusive fungi next Saturday 16th. They will aim to find a variety of mushrooms and toadstools in and around the wood, and explain something of their fascinating life cycles and why fungi are essential for a healthy woodland. They will also keep an eye out for visiting winter birds.
Nearly 20 hunters scoured the woods, hedgerows and fields last year and were rewarded with some stunning finds. You can see the report, including a video slideshow of their finds, here.
The walk will start at the Old Church, leaving at 10am on Saturday 16th November. The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. You should wear strong boots or wellies, as you may encounter wet conditions underfoot !
Read on for a report from the last guided walk on 28th September.
Eight of us scoured Hillhouse Wood and surrounding fields for evidence of nature’s bounty. We were rewarded by finding nearly fifty species of plants showing fruits or flowers. However, I believe that this walk is arguably mis-named, in that we usually see more flowers than fruits. This proved to be the case again this year.
Continue reading “Autumn Flowers and Fungi”
We start the Advent experience of Posada (a Mexican tradition). Following this we look at:
… the usual listings of services and contacts.
Posada originates from Mexico where people dress as Mary and Joseph and re-enact the journey to Bethlehem, travelling from house to house asking for a place to stay (the word Posada means an inn). In recent years, this idea has been modified by churches in this country by sending the figures of Mary and Joseph and the donkey from house to house during Advent.
Continue reading “St Mary’s News – The Posada & Shoebox Edition”
Meeting on 14th October 2024 the Planning & Development Committee first reviewed actions from the previous meeting. They then appointed Cllr. Chamberlain as the new Vice Chair. The Committee then discussed an application and an appeal, supporting the application in Mumford Road and opposing the appeal in Nayland Road.
Read the official minutes below:
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 West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan, Government National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and CBC Planning Policies when commenting on individual applications.
| Chair: | Cllr Bob Tyrell |
| Parish Councillors: | Cllrs Brian Butcher, Paul Chamberlain, Andrew Savage |
| Also in attendance: | Julie Gillott (Clerk Assistant) and 2 members of the public |
The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 10th October 2024 with topics including:
| Members present: | Cllrs Harry Stone (HS), David Short (DS) and Andrew Savage (AS) |
| Also present: | 1 member of the public |
Apologies – Cllr Katie Pulford, Manya Barrow and John Gili-Ross
None.
The minutes of the 12th Sept 2024 were agreed by all and there were no actions carried forward.
The one member of the public present was there, as an interested observer of proceedings.
A full report was not available due to unforeseen circumstances, but it was reported that the Handyman had carried out their full range of routine duties.
Cllr. Gili-Ross had provided a list of potential additional provision for future maintenance to equipment and in particular to the requirement for more robust equipment/tools/ machinery etc., this in light of the fact that it may be the case that CCC will further curtail their grass cutting programme in 2025.
It is understood that Cllr. Pulford is researching an appropriate window of time to undertake spraying of the ponds which will be carried out by the suitably qualified handymen as discussed at the September meeting. Next year’s budget for the pond maintenance was discussed but see Para. 11 below.
The contractor has confirmed that routine hedge cutting will take place during the October half-term, precise dates yet to be advised. Clerk has contacted CCC to arrange for a sweeper to attend following completion of the work. The handymen are to be present to drop the various barriers in order to allow access for the tractor flail. The residents of Henderson Close are to be advised of the relevant date as previously discussed.
Completion of this project is in hand.
The Parish Council was invited by Bruno Peek the nation’s Pageantmaster to participate in the forthcoming celebration of VE Day on 8th May 2025. The celebrations will mainly consist of beacon lighting, church bell ringing, choral singing and band playing. Whether or not West Bergholt will participate is yet to be decided and placed before the full PC, but in the meantime Cllr. Stone and Short will sound out various organisations and individuals to ascertain the level of interest in participating and will report back to the Env.Com. in due course.
Consideration should be given to requirements for the upcoming Parish council budget to include such items as the purchase of new tools for the handymen (see Paras. 7 and 8 above). It was decided that the Env. Com. would undertake detailed discussions in order to present to Cllr. Savage and the PC, the committee’s recommendations (which are anticipated to be substantial), for the forthcoming budget.
The next Environment Committee meeting will be on Thurs 14th November 2024, at 4.30pm in the SC Meeting Room.
West Bergholt Parish Council’s own Harry Stone was presented this month with the Essex Councillor of the Year Award. Cllr Frank Belgrove, a member of the Essex Association of Local Councils‘ (EALC) Executive Committee, presented the award during the EALC’s 80th Annual General Meeting.
Harry’s fellow councillors nominated him in recognition of his unwavering dedication to the Parish Council and his tireless support for the younger members of the community. His notable contributions include the establishment of the new Drop-in Café and his involvement with the BYG (Bergholt Youth Group).
A judging panel, composed of EALC Executive Committee members, decided who should win the award. It was open to councillors from all 270 councils affiliated with the EALC. West Bergholt Parish Council expressed their pride in having such an esteemed councillor in their ranks, highlighting Harry’s exceptional commitment and service to the community.