Road Closures & Fear of Crime

Fear of Crime

Colchester Borough Council have launched a ‘Fear of Crime’ survey. They are keen to understand people’s feelings around public safety, and whether residents have either been a victim of, or fear becoming a victim of crime. Fear of Crime means different things to different people, this could include:

not feeling safe in the community,
fear of burglary, or
possible violent or physical harm.

The survey takes about 10 minutes of your time to complete and will help them learn about experiences in the area. The survey is open until 19th September.

Fear of Crime Survey – Colchester Borough Council.

Road Closures

There are two upcoming road closures:

Newbridge Hill – 11th September, and
New Church Road – 22nd September

More details below:

August 15, 2022August 15, 2022

Cricket Festival 2022 Starts Next Week

West Bergholt CC Festival 2022

West Bergholt CC are running the week-long Cricket Festival 2022 at their home ground on Manor Road. Every day will see the bar and BBQ open for some much-needed fundraising. If you enjoy your cricket, why not pop along – the fixtures are as follows:

Tuesday 23rd August 1 pm start – a 40-over friendly between:
West Bergholt XI vs Armed forces
Wednesday 24th August 5:30 pm start – a 20/20 match between:
West Bergholt XI vs Bures XI
Thursday 25th August 5:30 pm start – 20/20 format again between:
West Bergholt XI vs Queen’s Head XI (don’t bring your own beer!)
Friday 26th August 1 pm start – a 40-over friendly between:
West Bergholt XI vs Suffolk XI
Saturday 27th August 1 pm start – a 45-over league match between:
West Bergholt 2nd XI vs Maldon
Sunday 28th August 9 am start – a ‘Sixes Tournament‘ this promises:
“Fast & exciting cricket with teams battling for supremacy”
Monday 29th August 1 pm start – a 40-over friendly between:
West Bergholt Saxons vs East Anglia vets.

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022

Good News for Neighbourhood Plan

Colchester Local Plan Gives a Boost to our Neighbourhood Plan

Colchester adopted Section 2 of its’ Local Plan (CLP) on 4th July 2022, this is good news for our Neighbourhood Plan. You may well recall the upset when, on appeal, the Planning Inspectorate granted NEEB approval to develop the site off Armoury Road. The Parish Council, and villagers generally, felt that the decision was irrational but such a decision should not be able to made again thanks to the CLP.

The Parish Council have been successful in getting the following changes included in the CLP:

6.227 The West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan was made in 2019. It sets out the planning policy framework needed to support the delivery of 120 houses to 2033 and to guide and meet all other development or community needs identified by the community in West Bergholt.
Policy SS15: West Bergholt: All development proposals in West Bergholt parish will be determined against and be required to comply with policies in the West Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan and any relevant Local Plan policies.

July 27, 2022July 27, 2022

Chitts Hill & Chapel Road Closures

The next few weeks will see Chitts Hill closed for through traffic twice and Chapel Road just once. All dates are indicative and may vary according to operational needs. The following are in date order, but in inverse order of severity.

Chitts Hill – 28th July

Map locating two closures at Chitts Hill and diversion route

This closure is to permit Openreach to complete some works. Chitts Hill will be closed from its’ junction with Argents Lane in a southerly direction for around 170m. The recommended diversion route is via Argents lane, Spring Lane and Halstead Rod (or, of course, vice versa).

July 12, 2022July 27, 2022

Essex Way Photo Competition

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Essex Way, CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Essex is launching a photographic competition; everyone is invited to join.

CPRE Essex played a leading role in bringing about this beautiful 81-mile walk from Epping to Harwich. There can be no better way of acclaiming its joys than sharing pictures of it.

You are invited to take shots of landscapes, buildings, people… whatever takes your fancy as long as your images are taken on the Essex Way.

Age Groups & Prizes

July 12, 2022July 12, 2022

Essex Libraries Summer 2022 Update

Essex Libraries have three updates for Summer 2022 covering:

for those with kids starting primary school,
who knew, you can recycle used ink cartridges and more in Libraries,
Book Groups, and
their Summer Reading Challenge (starts this weekend).

Is your child starting primary school?

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022

St Mary’s Pilgrimage for the Homeless Edition

This edition of St Mary’s News starts with a report from a pilgrimage, and continues with other news on Licensing of Liz Dixon, Afternoon Tea, Summer Holiday activities and the usual listings of services and contacts.

Pilgrimage for the Homeless – Alan Murray Tells his story

Pilgrims assembling at Canterbury Cathedral

I have just walked the 74-mile Pilgrimage from St Martin-in-the-Fields in London to Canterbury Cathedral, with about 100 other pilgrims, sleeping on the floors of churches and halls. This took four full days and was a great experience, walking with some of the homeless people, as well as helpers and supporters of this homeless charity.

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022

Candidates for By-Election 28th July 2022

Three candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election

The following three candidates have been nominated to stand for the by-election in the Lexden & Braiswick ward:

Name	Home Address	Description
BICKERSTETH Catherine	(address in Colchester)	Labour Party
FRANKS Kieron Anthony	(address in Colchester)	Liberal Democrats
NAYLOR Sara Jane	Tall Pines, Chapel Lane, West Bergholt, CO6 3EF	Conservative Party Candidate