New Defibrillator in West Bergholt

Orpen Memorial Hall gets a Defibrillator

Anthony Warren WBFC & Brian Butcher WBPC

Following the installation of a new Defibrillator at Orpen Hall there are now four available in the village, the others being at:

The most recent is the result of the Parish Council working with the Football Club to deliver a service that could prove critical. The Football Club had obtained a defibrillator with a grant from the Premier League but found they had no suitable place to install it.

This is where the Parish Council were able to step in by offering a spot at Orpen Hall. The Parish Council upgraded the electric supply for the defibrillator. They then registered it with “The Circuit” so those in need can be directed to it. The Parish Council will also fund any ongoing maintenance required.

The Circuit

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Sing to Save Lives

Sing to save lives will help support Lifeboats like the one depicted here
RNLI 200 Years saving lives

Vocal Zones Choir are going to Sing to Save Lives at their RNLI 200th Anniversary Concert. The concert will have a distinctly watery theme comprising Shanties and songs of Rivers and Oceans (some samples below). There will be some songs for all to sing along with.

To support this event, which is taking place in the Orpen Hall on Friday 10th May from 7:30 pm, you can buy your tickets at the door for just £10 (Under 18s £5). This includes a free glass of wine or juice in the interval.. All proceeds, including any donations, will go directly to the RNLI.

Mingulay Boat Song

RNLI 200 Years saving lives

[Chorus] Heave a ho, boys! Let her go, boys!
Swing her head round, and all together.
Heave a ho, boys! Let her go, boys,
Sailing homeward to Mingulay.

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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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Environment & Highways – 8th February 2024

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 8th February 2024 with topics including:

On 8th February 2024 the E&H Committee discussed speeding issues & a possible trial with police to address them.
  • Paper recycling used at Newbridge Mill Farm,
  • Litter issues around Uncle Kams Fish & Chip shop,
  • Possible involvement in a speeding control trial,
  • Tree Planting, and
  • Handymen’s report including:
    • Replacing some saplings that had been disturbed,
    • Litter picking,
    • Truck repairs went well,
    • Highways preliminary sweep of Argents Lane.

Environment Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 8th February 2024 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

Members present:Cllrs Katie Pulford (KP), Harry Stone (HS), David Short (DS) and John Gili-Ross (JGR) (via Zoom),
Also present:No members of the public

1.     Welcome & Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllrs Manya Barrow and James Owers.

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Warm Welcoming Space for Winter Returns

Warm Welcoming Space is Back

AI Generated Image representing a warm welcoming space with tea coffee & biscuits

The Care Network working with the WI and with support from the Parish Council is planning, once again, to provide a free warm welcoming space this winter. As previously, this will be in the Social Club Meeting Room at the Orpen Hall.

They will take place on Mondays & Fridays between 10 am and 12 noon starting on Friday 27th October.

Tea, coffee and biscuits and free Wi-Fi will be available. In fact, everything is free of charge, no membership or booking and all age groups are welcome. Meet others, come with friends or enjoy a little time alone – the warm space can be whatever you want it to be.

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White Christmas or a Weather Crisis?

‘sno Joke – Weather is changing

The recent unexpected and rapid change in weather caught us short.  Despite this the Snow Patrol, with their usual efficiency, stepped in to mitigate risks as much as they could – more about them later.

We saw, perhaps 2″ of snowfall in West Bergholt, meanwhile our webmaster reported nearer 4″ falling in just a few hours;  he lives in Brentwood! By contrast, Greenstead and St. Johns had virtually none.

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Warm Welcoming Space Opens 7th November

Social Club Room venue for the Warm Space

West Bergholt Care Network Announce Warm Welcoming Space Opening

The Care Network will open the doors to their Warm Welcoming Space project at 9:30am on Monday 7th November. On Monday and Friday each week the social club meeting room at the Orpen Hall will open to everyone in the village between 9.30am and 12.30pm. Free coffee, tea, biscuits and Wi-Fi are available. All age groups are very welcome – although under sixteens must be in the company of an adult.

There is no membership, entrance fee, or booking required. You can simply turn up with friends, meet others or just enjoy a little time alone. The ‘warm welcoming space’ can be whatever you want it to be.

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Colchester takes action against Anti-social Vehicle Use

Anti-social vehicle use is targeted by Public Space Protection Order

Map showing area in which Anti-social vehicle use will be targeted

Following a period of consultation Colchester Borough Council has introduced a Public Space Protection Order to target anti-social vehicle use. The order came into effect on 30th September and will remain in place for three years.

Specifically, within the area shown on the map, the council prohibits:

  1. Engaging in, promoting, encouraging, or assisting in the carrying out of any activity connected to the use of a motor vehicle, inclusive of motorbikes on a public highway, public car park or any other land to which the public has access in the Colchester Borough Council district area (Restricted Area) and which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.
  2. Congregating or loitering as part of a group surrounding or within one or more stationary vehicles at any time where such activity causes noise, exhaust fumes, harassment, alarm, or distress
  3. Causing or permitting excessive amplified music or vehicular noise, and/or excessive emissions of exhaust fumes where such activity causes harassment, alarm, or distress
  4. Using a skateboard, pedal cycle, which includes a power assisted pedal cycle, or a pedal cycle in combination with a trailer, constructed or adapted for carrying one or more passengers, scooter, skates or any other self-propelled wheeled vehicle in such a manner as to cause damage to property or that causes or is likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person.

Why the order is coming into place

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St Mary’s News – Bread of Life Edition

I am the Bread of Life - Jesus

This edition of St Mary’s News starts with Liz Dixon reflecting on Jesus being “the bread of life”, and continues with other news including:

The Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’

John 6:35

More Sustainable

In an effort to live more sustainably, I decided to try and grow some vegetables in my garden for the first time this year. I made lots of mistakes so the results were very mixed. The broad beans were covered in black fly, the dwarf pea plants produced about 6 peas from 20 plants, and the carrots were very tiny. But I did manage to grow some passable red peppers!

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Care Network to offer Warm Space for winter

Can you help the Care Network Provide a Warm Space?

Care Network 0300 773 3100 want to provide warm space for winter

The Care Network with help & support from the Parish Council is planning to provide a free warm space in the Social Club area of the Orpen Hall for those of all age groups who might need support this winter.

Volunteers will be needed to supervise the use and help those attending with light refreshments and other social activities. Some may also need transport.

Details are yet to be finalised but the following are envisaged:

  • Morning sessions on two days a week (possibly Monday and Friday)
  • Opening 9.30 to 12.30 (these times may be reviewed)
  • Attendance of volunteers in pairs for sessions lasting one and a half hours
  • A commitment to a particular session but with flexibility should circumstance require a change

More information to follow but they are hoping to start by the end of October.

Please Volunteer

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