Community, Parish Council & Village
St Mary’s Church update for 20th July provides listings of services and other events and news. This update includes Harvest Festival, results of Children’s Society collection and calls for help.
Village Fete – 1st SeptemberWe are hoping to run a stall at the Village Show. It would be great if Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 20th July 2018”
Changes coming to West Bergholt SurgeryAs the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, the stresses it is increasingly under are being felt by the Creffield Medical Group who run the West Bergholt Surgery. Dr Hasan Chowhan from the Group has given the Parish Council a briefing on the changes.
From the 1st June 2017 Creffield Medical Centre Continue reading “Changes coming to West Bergholt Surgery”
Protest against NEEB Planning Application!Yesterday saw a number of residents take to the streets in protest against the NEEB Planning Application. As you will know, this application does not conform to CBC’s emerging Local Plan nor West Bergholt’s Neighbourhood Plan currently undergoing Reg 14 Consultation.
Thankfully, Continue reading “Protest against NEEB Planning Application”
The Environment & Highways Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 14th June, and discussed bus shelter and cherry trees at Orpen Hall, ponds, allotments, handymen, items held over from the last meeting and other items raised.
Old Church Reopening ConcertAlmost a year after the Friends of St Mary’s announced that funds had been raised for urgent repairs to the Old Church, the Church is reopening to the public. The builders removed the scaffolding from St. Mary’s Old Church almost two weeks ago and committee members have been beavering away cleaning a rather dirty and dusty church. As from this Sunday 24th June, we are very pleased to say that it is back in use once again. It will be open every day from 10 am – 4 pm.
When you visit you may be surprised that there is not much discernible difference inside the church. The recent repairs addressed the roof, 2 dormer windows and rotten timbers were replaced. The tower was also reclad with Cedar panels (see above). The next phase will involve redecoration of the interior. The work is being done by the Churches Conservation Trust who are responsible for the fabric of the church along with 350 others. The village Friends’ group aims to keep the Old Church a part of village life by opening and closing it daily and raising enough funds to keep it and the churchyard properly cared for.
On Sunday 24th June at 3 pm, we are delighted to welcome back the Comrie Singers together with Jubilant Brass and The 4 Saxes who will entertain visitors with a musical concert. Tickets are only £6 and this includes refreshments served after the concert. Please do come and enjoy this annual event.
The Comrie Singers choir has been going about 7 years now. Originally formed by parents with an association to St. Mary’s School. The name derives from Comrie House, their Lower School in Lexden, where they used to rehearse. They now rehearse every second Monday at Philip Morant School, and cover all genres of music, as long as it is fun. The Choir always welcome new members. Not all members can read music, that is not necessary, but it does help of course.
Jubilant Brass formed in 2012 which was Jubilee year, hence the name. It was originally a quartet until the Tuba player joined three years ago making them a quintet.
The 3 Saxes are a group that plays at weddings and other social events and are all members of other bands and orchestras in the area.
St Mary’s Church update for 18th June provides listings of services and other events and news. This update includes Praise on 4 Café, results of Christian Aid collection, calls for help and a course in Christian Studies.
Join us for coffee & croissants, music, informal worship and discussion on 24th June at 9:30 am. This month’s theme is ’Good News?’
Everyone Welcome! Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 18th June 2018”
The Premises & Recreation Sub-Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 4th June when, among other items, they discussed MUGA, roofing, CCTV and remote access, rubbish bins, village fete, communications, bulletin & Lorkin Daniell field.
Flatford Hosts Concert BandFollowing a successful concert there last year, Flatford hosts the Concert Band once again with a free concert for all near the Mill on Sunday 10th June. Starting at 2:30 pm, it will last around 2 hours.
Flatford is well worth a visit of itself so why not get there early and visit the sites of many of John Constable’s unique pictures such as the Hay Wain or Boatbuilding near Flatford Mill among many others. Wandering beside the River Stour Continue reading “Flatford Hosts Concert Band”
St Mary’s Church update for 5th June provides listings of services and other events and news. This update includes Messy Church, FIFA World Cup-themed this month, great fundraising results of the Garden Party and Children’s’ Society box appeal.
Messy ChurchThe next Messy Church is Sunday 10th June at 9:30 am; the theme will be the Football World Cup! Join us for a family-friendly, informal Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 5th June 2018”
Neighbourhood Plan reaches the final stretch – make sure your views are heardWe are reaching the final stretch and the Neighbourhood Plan is almost finalised. We are now holding a final community consultation in order to comply with planning legislation. This is termed the Regulation 14 consultation and it starts today for seven weeks. After considering responses the plan will be sent to Colchester Borough Council which will begin the statutory processes for the plan’s formal adoption as planning policy.
The consultation will take the form of:
To find out more and to view the consultation material listed above please visit our Neighbourhood Plan pages. We encourage everybody in the village to visit the main web-pages listed below; this will help to get you started:
We urge Residents and Businesses to read the NP documentation and then visit the exhibition in order to further understand the proposals for:
Take time to read the full Reg 14 documentation, visit the exhibition and give us your feedback. This is the last of the community consultations which will take place. After this, our plan has to take its chances in the rarefied atmosphere of a statutory planning examination. We will then call a referendum; after this, the plan can be declared a “statutory” plan.
As Chris Stevenson, Chairman of the Steering Group says:
The West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan has taken several years to produce and I and my Steering group members have been delighted with the support received from the community to date. 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. In this, the almost final version, we have taken on board many of the suggestions and comments received from previous consultations. What we need to do now is just check the final wording of the document and proposals contained. Please take the time to consider the plan and let us have your comments, not on the generality but on specific wording in the plan!
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; make the most of this opportunity!
Chris Stevenson
Chairman West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
Chairman West Bergholt Parish Council