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West Bergholt PC is pleased to welcome you to its website

Welcome to West Bergholt sign

West Bergholt is a large rural Essex village located amongst open countryside.  Country walks include the stunning Hillhouse Woods & St Mary’s Old Church.  It is located near the border of Essex & Suffolk and just outside and to the North-west  of Colchester   – Britain’s Oldest Recorded town. The village:

Covid-19 Virus

In 2016 West Bergholt won the Class 2 prize in the RCCE Village of the year competition and overall 2nd place, read the news item for more.

If you need support locally during the COVID-19 pandemic click here for information about our local enhanced Care Network service.  More general COVID-19 support and advice is here.

To find out more about us click here.  Scroll down to see recent news from the village.

What’s Happening

Bear in mind some activities might still be affected due to COVID-19

See more events here.

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Highway Code changes on 29th January!

Road priorities in the Highway Code change on 29th January

The Highway Code has eight new rules and major updates to 49 existing ones with effect from 29th January 2022.  The biggest single change, and one well worth getting on top of now, is who has priority.  Others to revise include Overtaking, Roundabouts & Dutch Reach.

Priorities

New junction rule in the Highway Code

The new rules include a ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ which gives priority to the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists & equestrians.  The most significant new rules are:

Rule H1

Those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others.

Continue reading “Highway Code changes on 29th January!”
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Do you want to be heard & other news

Do you want to be heard?

If you think that your views are not being heard then read on. Other news also about:

Attributes of a good Parish Councillor
What makes a good councillor?

So, do you have strong views on what’s wrong with the village or feel that you are not being heard?  Do you think the Parish Council could…

  • take more account of views like yours?  
  • do more about climate change?
  • address the needs of your ‘demographic’ (race, age, gender etc…)?
Continue reading “Do you want to be heard & other news”
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JUMBO Update and the Impact of the Daniell Family

Daniell Family – Next Topic

Daniell & Sons Brewery beer label

The next Local History Group meeting will learn about the impact of the Daniell Family on West Bergholt’s development. Peter Noakes will lead this meeting which will take place on February 9th starting at 7:30 pm. As ever, all are welcome for a modest charge of £2 for members and £5 for visitors. The JUMBO meeting report is below.

January Cancellation

On January 12th, the Group were planning to invite members and visitors to investigate their village archive. Because of the current COVID-19 situation they have decided to CANCEL this meeting. Instead, they hope to be able to spend some time after their AGM in March discussing the archive.  In lieu of this meeting, they plan to add an extra outside visit in their Summer Schedule.

November JUMBO Update

Continue reading “JUMBO Update and the Impact of the Daniell Family”
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St Mary’s New Year Resolutions Edition

Revd Heather Wilcox starts by discussing New Year Resolutions; there is also an appreciation of Jo Jeffery and thank you for Advent Windows. It also, of course, has the usual listings of services and contacts.

New Year Message from Revd Heather Wilcox

New Year resolutions, I suspect that at some point in our lives, we have all made them.

As a new year dawns, we wake up determined that somehow this year we will make better choices. Maybe we want to lose weight or exercise more, learn a new hobby, or find ways of connecting with our friends more effectively throughout the year and not just with the annual Christmas card and round robin letter.

Continue reading “St Mary’s New Year Resolutions Edition”
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To Fence or Not to Fence Survey Results

The Results of the “Fence or Not to Fence” Survey Are Now In

Before Christmas, the Parish Council posted this survey on the hub. It posed a questions about fencing in the children’s playground on the Lorkin Daniell Field. Whilst the results show a clear support for fencing in the playground, this is only one of several ideas that the Parish Council will consider in the New Year.

The question posed was:

Continue reading “To Fence or Not to Fence Survey Results”
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St Mary’s Advent Trail 2021 Video

Christmas Services Update

One of the Advent Trail windows
One of the Advent Trail Windows

Before we get to the trail video, there are some changes to St Mary’s services on Christmas Eve. The Crib Service at 3 pm will now take place outside in the church yard (so wrap up warmly). The 6.45 pm Carol Service will be socially distanced in the Church and also on Zoom. For Zoom details, please contact the church office on [email protected].

Advent Trail

The West Bergholt Village Advent Windows returned for 2021! A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to decorate a window featuring a scene from the nativity story.

The first window was revealed on Wednesday 8th December with a window each day until Monday 20th December.

Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year from everyone at St. Mary’s Church.

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COVID, St Mary’s Booster Sessions, Transport & Carol Cancellation

St Mary’s Booster Sessions

Booster sessions at St Mary's

St Mary’s are running Booster sessions every Tuesday & Friday between 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Nik, from the pharmacy, is leading these sessions with help from a steady band of volunteers to keep traffic flowing. Check on the NHS website to see availability although note that St Mary’s will only show up if there are slots available. If you want to take a chance, you could also pop along late in the session in case they have spare doses left over (often advertised on the Hub).

Transport for Vaccination

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Who Wants to Join the Snow Patrol?

Snow Patrol Volunteers might be needed this winter

Snow Patrol at Orpen Hall 2018

If you remember the Beast from the East in 2018, you will remember what a sterling job the Snow Patrol did in keeping the village running. Looking at their faces, it seems they also took pleasure from the task in hand.

2018 was the first time for about three years that we have had any appreciable snowfall.  Thanks to a team of about twenty volunteers (and a just sufficient supply of salt), the Snow Patrol kept pathways to the key points of the village generally clear.

Is Snow Coming This Winter?

Continue reading “Who Wants to Join the Snow Patrol?”
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NHS Declares Major Incident

Major Incident declared by NHS

NHS logo - NHS is declaring a major incident

The NHS has declared a major incident in relation to the administration of the COVID 19 booster vaccine. They will use a number of venues to ramp-up vaccinations, including

  • vaccination centres (existing and new);
  • local pharmacies;
  • PCNs (GPs);
  • Hospital Hubs,
  • Pop up centres,
  • drive-thru facilities (probably in unused retail parks e.g. B&Q Hythe), and
  • an outreach programme to large business premises.

However, the NHS desperately needs volunteers to help ensure the smooth running of the new and old vaccination clinics.   Please contact Community360, who will be supporting this aspect of the vaccination roll out, if you are interested. Telephone 01206 505250 or email [email protected].