The Friends of St Mary’s present a talk on the archaeological dig at 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.
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.
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.
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:
Meeting on 19th May 2025 the Planning & Development Committee first agreed the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee then discussed eight Planning Applications, seven of which they supported. Those supported included four for extensions to existing properties, one change of use, an agricultural development, and a variation to conditions on an already approved application. They supported all three although with some conditions attached to two of them. The final application resulted in a recommendation to full council to refuse. They also noted 3 decisions from CCC on prior applications.
Read the official minutes below.
Minutes of the Planning and Development Committee Meeting
Held on Monday 19th May 2025 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 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, Andrew Savage, Paul Chamberlain
Also in attendance:
Clerk Assistant – and two members of the public
Agenda items:
1. Welcome & Apologies for absence:
Apologies received from Cllr Tyler
2. Declarations of interest:
None
3. Minutes & actions from the previous meeting
Minutes agreed, no actions
4. Public participation and to receive any pre-application representations.
None
5. Planning Applications, and Appeals:
250743 BounceAbillity, Hill House Farm, 157 Colchester Road
Planning application: Change of use of trampoline activity centre to be open to those with and without disabilities and special learning needs
Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided not to comment.
Decision: Support
250848 Bourne Barn Farm, Bourne Road, West Bergholt CO6 3EN
Planning Application: Application for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development – proposed general purpose agricultural storage building
Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided not to comment.
Decision: Support
250793 Coney Byes House, Coney Byes Lane, West Bergholt CO6
Planning Application: Application for variation of condition 2 following grant of planning permission 232785
Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided not to comment.
Decision: Support
250867 Priors Cottage, Hall Road, West Bergholt CO6 3DX
Planning Application: Demolition of existing conservatory. Proposed single storey extension on footprint of existing conservatory.
Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided not to comment.
Decision: Support
250922 4 Rookery Cottages, Nayland Road, West Bergholt CO6 3DG
Planning Application: Proposed Two Storey & Single Storey Rear Extension with Internal Alterations
Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided to support the application, but the applicant may wish to consider a set-back to the south elevation to emphasise that it is an extension of the original property.
Decision: Support
250941 106a Lexden Road, West Bergholt CO6 3BW
Planning Application: Construction of a single storey ground floor rear extension and a side extension. Existing extension to be clad in timber to both the walls and roof.
Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided not to comment.
Decision: Support
250794 Rivendell, Queens Road, West Bergholt CO6 3HE
Planning Application: Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for the proposed construction of a new single storey rear extension to the existing dwelling. The extension will project into the rear garden to provide an enlarged kitchen/dining space
Comment: Having considered all the details of this application, the Parish Council has decided not to comment.
Decision: Support
251001 Hill House Farm, 157 Colchester Road, West Bergholt CO6 3JX
Planning Application: Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed: Change of Use of Buildings on Agricultural Units to 1 x Dwellinghouse (Class C3), which may include extension of the building and/or building operations reasonably necessary
Comment: The Planning Committee recommends the Parish Council object to this application as it is outside the settlement boundary of West Bergholt, thus contrary to policy PP9, the elevational treatment is of poor-qualitydesign and does not comply with PP10 of the Neighbourhood Plan. The proposed conversion is also within 26m of a grade2 Listed farmhouse, and visible from Colchester Road.
Decision: Recommend Refusal to Parish Council meeting
The next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Wood is taking place this Saturday 10th May with an early start.
The Dawn Chorus (links to a previous report) walk starts from St Mary’s Old Church at 3:45 am on 10th May. This walk affords the opportunity to see Nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers. For this walk you should bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch.
Although these walks are normally well attended it is likely that they don’t always fall on a convenient date or time. Well, the Friends of Hillhouse Wood have been working hard to put this right.
Welcome to Online Guided Walks
Putting together:
a Google Map that can help you navigate through the woods, and
YouTube videos describing what you might see at up to 17 waypoints,
At the start of this year Vocal Zones Choir decided to start a review of the choir and have implemented some changes; both the committee and the membership have been engaged in this process. They are pleased to announce a new name as one of the changes; they will now be known as Vocal Zone Singers. Members & the Committee feel that this name better represents the ethos of the group. They are not a formal choir; but simply a group of people who enjoy singing and like to meet together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The singers are all excited by the new direction the committee and membership wants to take their singing group.
They hope that this new photo better reflects the upbeat, friendly and sunny disposition of the group.
May begins and ends with a bank holiday, which is always rather nice, and with the spring well established now, and as we look towards the summer, we might hope that the bank holidays won’t disappoint us and will produce some good weather, perhaps even giving us the opportunity for a BBQ or family picnic.
