Village News - Page 120 of 199

May 20, 2014May 20, 2014

Bogus callers working locally and Burglary Hotspot

Beware of bogus callers – Colchester woman conned

Be aware of bogus callers – they have tricked their way into a woman’s house in Colchester. Two men claiming to be from the council knocked on the door of a property in Rochdale Way, Greensted, at around 7pm on Saturday, May 17 asking to check the water pipes. A woman who lives in the property was alone and allowed them in. Whilst in the premises they went upstairs and stole some jewellery.

Descriptions:

The two men had Irish accents and were both described as white.

Man 1:

Aged around 30 to 40
Short greying hair under a blue baseball cap.
Unshaven greying beard.

Man 2:

Thin
In his 20s
Short dark hair

Anybody with any information about this incident or who may have seen anybody acting suspiciously in the area is asked to contact Colchester CID on Essex Police 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Follow Essex Police advice to stay safe:

Don’t be frightened to ask for identification and always check it carefully. If you’re not sure, ask them to come back another day.
Think about installing a door chain and use it. Keep the door on the chain until you’ve seen identification.
If you need your glasses to read the identification, close the door before going to find them. Don’t leave the door open and unattended.
Remember to lock the back door before opening the front.
Don’t be pressured into letting someone into your home if you have suspicions.
Don’t keep large amounts of cash in the house.
Don’t believe scare stories. Not all callers are genuine.

For more information on staying safe, go to the Essex Police Be Safe pages on www.essex.police.uk.

Burglary Hotspot

As a related topic, for the first time since we started receiving neighbourhood crime updates a part of West Bergholt has been identified as a ‘burglary hotspot’ – this is as part of an operation intended to reduce burglary by identifying and then concentrating on areas which, following incidents of crime, are currently considered ‘burglary hotspots,’ these areas will change in response to crime trends.

It is hoped that Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and members, as well as other members of our local communities can assist the police by keeping vigilant, and through reporting any suspicious activity, which could relate to burglaries. To report non-emergency incidents, or to give non-emergency information, please telephone 101, and, as always, dial 999 in an emergency.

May 16, 2014

Questions about local NHS Services?

If you have questions about local NHS Services you may be interested in attending the North East Essex NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) open Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 27th at 2.30pm at the Primary Care Centre (2nd floor, above the walk-in centre) Turner Road, Colchester CO4 5JR.

Everyone is welcome to attend the CCG Board Meeting, which is held in public. There will be a question time session during the meeting when members of the public are welcome to question the Board on any relevant issue.

The Board Agendas and supporting papers are published on the CCG website at www.neessexccg.nhs.uk (click on “Library” then “Board Meeting” or click directly here: http://tinyurl.com/9weepq7 ).

The Agenda for May includes :

A report on the new community rapid assessment service for people in Tendring, with Advanced Nurse Practitioners working from Clacton and Harwich hospitals to care for people either in their own homes, or in the community hospitals
A progress report on the imminent external quality review of maternity services in North East Essex.
A report from the local public, patient and carer’s organisation, the Health Forum Committee
The proposed new CCG Five Year Strategy for decision by the Board.

May 15, 2014

Celebration of Local Volunteers

Celebrate Local Volunteers

Celebrating local volunteers is at the cornerstone of the upcoming Annual Parish Meeting on 21st May starting at 7pm in the John Lampon Hall (adjacent to Orpen Hall). Refreshments will also be available as will the opportunity to discuss other important issues for the Village such as:

Neighbourhood Plan – shape the future of the village; and
Emergency Plan.

May 13, 2014May 8, 2015

Open Gardens 2014

West Bergholt Open Gardens Day, organized by the West Bergholt Gardeners Association, is taking place on 22nd June from 1pm to 5pm. Admission is by programme available from the Methodist Chapel Hall, St Mary’s Church Hall and any of the open gardens on the day. We are asking for a small donation of £4 (accompanied children free). Proceeds from the event will go to our nominated charity “The Teenage Cancer Trust”, who supported a local young man through his terminal illness.

As well as 13 gardens to view you will also be able to pick up handy hints from our own keen “Allotmenteers” and see donkeys in one of the gardens! We will also be offering the opportunity to purchase refreshments at the church halls as well as at some of the open gardens.

Ample parking will be available at the Orpen Hall.

More information from either [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or www.opengardens.co.uk.

May 11, 2014

Support local lads in League Cup final

Bergholt Heath YFC Under 15’s have made the final of the Colchester & District League Cup for the second successive year having won the under 14 title last year.

They will play league champions Notley Youth at Wivenhoe Town FC on Sunday 18th May, kick off 4pm.

All are welcome to attend and support the team. Please note no balls allowed and no entering the field of play. Thanks.

May 10, 2014

Be up with the larks for the Dawn Chorus walk 2014

Dawn Chorus Walk 2014

As usual, Steve Hallam will be leading this walk around Hillhouse Wood, which will afford the opportunity to see and/or hear nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers. Last years walk saw and/or heard 21 different varieties with a record attendance of 32 walkers!

The walk will start from the Old Church at 3:45am on Saturday 17th May. You should bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch – please note that the walk will only go ahead weather permitting.

If you haven’t been on one of these walks before you will find it a rewarding and delightful experience at a very special time for the wood’s varied wildlife; if you would like to know more then check out this report from last years dawn chorus walk.

Want to show your garden on TV?

How does your garden grow?

Outline Productions are a TV Production company and the makers of BBC2’s ‘The Great British Garden Revival’ and are currently making a brand new prime-time TV series which explores Britain’s beautiful private gardens.

Are you a passionate gardener, is your garden your pride & joy, do you want to prove you’ve got the best garden in town?

Well, Outline are casting for people who would like to showcase their stunning, imaginative or unique gardens to the nation, no matter what style, shape or size. Does your garden represent peace and tranquility? Is your garden fit for entertaining? Are you the proud owner of a National Collection? Perhaps it’s a tropical paradise or has an impressive prize winning fruit and veg patch? Outline are looking for people to apply and go head to head in a competition with other garden lovers to compare and critique who has the best garden / gardening skills and hospitality in town.

Outline would like to come to Essex for the first episode and have been identifying highly regarded and pretty villages in the county. They believe our community could be home to keen gardeners with fantastic gardens and are inviting anybody interested to contact them either by:

email – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”], or
telephone – 020 7424 7645

May 6, 2014

BHYFC Results w/e 4th May and Upcoming Fixture

Bergholt Heath YFC – Results w/e 4th May

Two matches were played last week, both by the under 15s..

BHYFC U15s vs Heybridge Swifts – League Cup Semi-Final

Having been re-instated into the League Cup as Clacton had fielded two cup-tied players in the quarter final, Bergholt took on Heybridge under the floodlights at Halstead Town FC on Tuesday evening 29th April.

Bergholt were looking for revenge against the team that had battered them 5-1 just a couple of weeks before, and from the outset the team looked far more determined to prevent Heybridge scoring, with Ciaran in particular running the midfield like a man possessed – possibly hyped up on various cold remedies downed for his bad cold! Heybridge had the better of the early exchanges but as usual the Bergholt defence stood firm and any shots that did come in were rushed and as a result were high and wide. Bergholt had their moments but generally it was half chances for both teams. HT: 0-0.

The second half was generally the same pattern as the first half, although Bergholt had a shout for a penalty when the Heybridge defender looked to bat the ball away from Max in the area using his arm, however the referee appeared not to see it and waved away the protests. This incident was the highlight of the second half. FT: 0-0.

In to extra time and Bergholt seemed to be getting stronger the longer the game went on with the Heybridge players rattled that they couldn’t find a way past a resolute Bergholt team with all 11 players on the pitch trying their hardest. All through extra time half chances again came and went, but the final score remained 0-0 and so for the second time in the cup against Heybridge this season, it was to be decided by penalties.

Heybridge were first up, and it was scored. 1-0
Ollie stepped up for the first Bergholt penalty and confidently slotted home. 1-1
Heybridge scored. 1-2
Max coolly found the corner for 2-2
Heybridge scored. 2-3
Jamie also found the corner. 3-3
Heybridge scored. 3-4
Up stepped Ciaran who miss hit his shot but – much to his relief – it deceived the keeper. 4-4
Heybridge scored. 4-5
Luke confidently placed his right in the top corner. 5-5
Heybridge scored. 5-6
Aaron was the first for sudden death and scored with a powerful shot. 6-6
Heybridge scored. 6-7
Jake was next and rolled his shot in. 7-7
The next Heybridge player hit his shot straight down the middle and Connor parried it over the bar. 7-7
Up stepped Sam – who tries to keep away from penalties – and he hit his shot into the corner: 8-7. Cue wild celerations (and comments from many that both teams could teach England a few things about penalty taking).

Bergholt are into the League Cup Final for the second season in a row. They will play Notley Youth on the weekend of 17th/18th May at Wivenhoe Town.

Bergholt Heath ‘man of the match’: votes not collected but special mention should go to both Ciaran and Aaron.

Bures United vs BHYFC U15s

The last league game of the season on Sunday 4th May saw Bergholt make the short trip to Bures United who had secured runners-up spot behind champions Notley. As seems normal these days Bergholt again had a few players missing, with striker James back on the injured list after just one substitutes appearance since the end of November. This week he was joined by fellow striker Ben who was unavailable as he was taking part in a charity event and Tom who had injured his foot.

Missing two strikers meant the Bergholt manager had to shuffle the pack and this week it saw usual front man Max joined up top by central defender Sam. The match kicked off in bright sunshine on a bobbly pitch. The early exchanges looked typically end-of-season with neither team having the killer instinct. Bergholt however used the relaxed atmosphere to soon get their passing game together and had a few superb passages of play that just failed to be rounded off with a goal the passing deserved. After around 15 minutes Bergholt took the lead with Max battled his way through the central defenders and slotted the ball under the keeper as he came out to block. Unfortunately just a few minutes later Bures were level when a couple of Bergholt players were slow to clear the area after a corner was cleared and played the Bures front men on side when the ball was played back into the box. 1-1. The entertaining game ebbed and flowed through to half time without any further goals.

The second half started in the same exciting end to end fashion. Bergholt regained the lead when Ollie sent Max away with a superb through ball. Max ran on to the ball and, under pressure from the defender, coolly curled his shot round the keeper and into the far corner of the net without breaking side for one of the goals of the season. However as with the first Bergholt goal, Bures got back on terms soon after. This time a free kick from the half way line deceived Connor in goal and he could only parry it into the roof of the net for a soft equaliser. Back came Bergholt and they were awarded a penalty when Sam had his shirted pulled as he escaped his marker on the edge of the box to run through on goal. Up stepped usual penalty taker Ollie to confidently slot the ball into the net. 3-2. Again Bures came back into it and for the first time in the match they managed to carve open the Bergholt defence down the left wing. The ball was whipped in and with only one central defender back in position, the striker connected well with his header for yet another equaliser. Not to be beaten, Bergholt scored their fourth – and what proved to be winning – goal when the ball was pumped into the Bures area from a free kick and Max got a back header in just as the keeper came out and well and truly clattered him (a good job he was facing backwards so he didn’t see the challenge coming!). The ball bounced into the empty net with Jamie on hand to ensure none of the defenders could get near enough to clear off the line to deny Max his hat-trick.

Final score: Bures United 3-4 Bergholt Heath

Bergholt Heath finish the season in 4th place in the A League – the same position as last year – on 26 points and a goal difference of +11.

Bergholt Heath ‘man of the match’: Max for his hat-trick and non-stop running.

Upcoming Fixtures

The final match of the season for Bergholt Heath will be the Under 15 League Cup final vs Notley Youth over the weekend of 17th / 18th May to Wivenhoe Town FC – details to be confirmed.

April 30, 2014

Green Open Homes

Save £££ and win – visit Green Open Homes during May

On Saturdays and Sundays / weekends from 3 – 15 May, 20 local householders will be opening their homes to the public as part of Colchester’s Green Open Homes. Find out how easy it is to cut hundreds of pounds from your energy bills by installing energy saving measures, from low cost to bigger investments. Plus win shopping vouchers just by visiting one of the Green Open Homes.

The event will be a great opportunity for visitors to see first-hand how various environmental and renewable technologies work, such as solar panels and air source heat pumps. See the technologies in use in real homes discuss with the householders the practicalities and benefits for them.

How much did the installation cost and how simple was it?
What effect has it had on their fuel bills?
Are the sales claims realistic?

Visit www.colchester.greenopenhomes.net or contact the organizers, en-form, on 01206 367776 or [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] for locations and opening details.

April 28, 2014May 8, 2015

April Crime report

April Crime Incidents

April started with a burglary after a late flurry of incidents in March and then saw two-vehicle-related crimes…

Burglary in Albany Road

At some time between 4:10 pm on the 4th and 9:30 am on the 5th April unknown suspects gained entry to the house through an insecure rear door. Once inside they made a tidy search and removed a number of items.

Theft from a Vehicle on A12

At some time between 9pm and 5am overnight on 8th/9th April unknown suspects siphoned a quantity of diesel from a lorry parked on the A12.

Criminal Damage to a vehicle in Chapel Road

At some time on 19th April an unknown suspect threw an egg at a vehicle which, being left on for a length of time before being noticed, caused damage to the paintwork.

Information Releases

Two have come through this month, one on how to deter criminals rather than attract them and another on garden security.

What attracts a criminal?

Without that initial attraction most crimes could be avoided, statistics show that most crimes are opportunist crimes; yes they may go out intending to commit crime but the victim is not yet chosen. So if there is no attraction then you may not become a victim.

What is the attraction?

The shed or garage with minimal security and tools visible through the window.
A lone person down a dark street talking loudly on their illuminated new I-Phone.
The house in darkness with the side gate flapping open, welcoming.
That accessible open window or door.
The purse sitting in the open handbag on top of the shopping trolley.
Group sitting chatting at a bar table with a mobile phone just sitting there on the table.
The bag on the back seat of an unattended car, even though the bag may only contain your sports clothes, the thief does not know this until he/she has smashed the window and stolen it.
The tradesman’s sign written van parked on the dark drive by the gate with accessible doors and unprotected pipe tube on the roof.
The partygoer that’s had too much to drink and is unaware of his/her surroundings.
Shiny new ride on lawn mower sitting on the grass in full view of the road with no postcode/security markings visible.

The above is just short list I am sure you can think of more. What can you do? STOP, think like a thief, spot the attraction and, where possible, remove it.

For Crime Reduction Advice contact – Stephen Armson-Smith, Colchester District Crime Prevention Officer using the police non emergency telephone number 101 then extension 436126.

Garden Security – Hints & Tips

With the weather steadily improving and with the nights getting longer, it is even more important that your garden is secure from would-be criminals. Making your garden more secure could prevent an intruder from getting into your home, garage or shed.

Hints and tips for securing your garden:-

Installing strong fences or gates will act as a deterrent, preventing intruders getting into your garden.
Ideally any gates, fencing, walls and hedges at the front of your house should not be more than 1.2m (4ft) so the front of your property can be seen by passers-by.
A standard 1.8m (6ft) wall or fence at the back of your house is sufficient. Increase the height to 2m (6ft 6in) if there is public access on the other side – any higher than this will need planning permission.
Trellis fixed to the top of a fence is not only decorative but can provide extra protection as it is difficult to climb over, breaking easily and noisily.
If there is an access point to your garden at the side of your house a strong lockable gate will act as a deterrent.
Garden gates should be at least the same height and strength as your fencing with hinges securely attached to the gateposts.
Fit good quality locks to gates that cannot be reached from over the fence.
Remember to always lock your gates.
Planting prickly plants or a hedge, such as firethorn, climbing rose or hawthorn, around the perimeter of your garden can be a powerful deterrent.
Gravel on paths and driveways can act as an alert to someone coming towards your property.
Install dusk to dawn security lighting. The low energy lamp stays on in the dark and switches off when it starts to get light.
Secure garden furniture and wheelie bins so they cannot be used to climb on and gain access to upstairs windows.
Do not leave ladders lying around – they could be used by thieves to climb into an upstairs window. Keep them locked in a garage/shed or chained to a fixed object.
Do not leave tools, gardening equipment or debris lying around in the garden as they could be used to smash windows.
Keep your garden neat and tidy so it looks cared for.
While working in your garden, make sure doors and windows are locked to stop unwanted visitors.
Do not use barbed wire, razor wire or broken glass on walls or fences to protect your property – you could be held legally responsible for any injuries caused.

For further advice contact, please contact:-

Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor:- Stephen Armson-Smith on tel 101, extn 426127, or email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].