White Colne
Parish Council
White Colne
Parish Council
White Colne
Parish Council
White Colne
Parish Council
White Colne
Parish Council
White Colne
Parish Council
White Colne
Parish Council
White Colne
NEWS FLASH
January 14th 2009
£5000 towards the new loo’s!
Essex County Council has granted our village £5,000 towards the cost of refurbishing the toilets in the village hall including the provision of a disabled WC. The funds are coming from the Community Initiative Grant. This makes a total of £10,000 already secured.
An application has been made today to BDC’s Halstead Local Committee for the remaining £9,745 needed to complete the project.
HIGHWAY MATTERS
Speedwatch has continued throughout 2008 and since we started the activity approximately
1200 speeding violaters and motorists behaving antisocially have been reported to
Essex Police. Offenders receive a letter from the police but the intent is not to
prosecute but to remind drivers that they should act more responsibly when they drive
through our village. However repeat offenders might be treated more harshly and,
since our efforts have highlighted a problem, increased enforcement checks have been
carried out by Essex Police -
Although we are continuing our dialogue with senior Councillors at County Hall in Chelmsford we seem to be fighting a losing battle in our quest for speed limit signs around Whites Farm and along the A1124 as you leave the village heading towards Colchester. However on a positive note we are very hopeful that we will receive funding this year for our own Speed Indicator Device and this will be strategically positioned at various sites throughout the village on a rotational basis. Our turn for the vehicular activated sign along the A1124 is also due imminently.
Some other successes we have had during 2008 are:
· Funding for a bus shelter and raised kerbs to assist boarding and alighting outside of the old Kings Head pub.
Work to begin imminently
· HGV signs in Boley Road, although the one at the Bures Road end has been stolen!
· Gritting of Bures Road
· Probable funding for a footpath along the north side of the A1124 up to Heating and Eating.
· Confirmation that the wall at Colneford Hill will be repaired during the next round of funding
This work was delayed due to prior repairs by EDF to a telegraph pole.
· Resurfacing of the road at the entrance of the village hall.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
John Watt and Chris Pearcey
News from the Neighbourhood Watch meeting of 12th January 2009
Home Security
The following items are available from Clive Stewart, Essex Watch Administrator at
Braintree Police Station 01376 556282 or clive.stewart@essex.pnn.police.uk:-
Door Guards £2.50, Spy Viewers £1.50, Personal Alarms £4.00,
24 Hour Timers £3.00 and Safe Cans £3.50.
ESSEX COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE
Fire-
If you would like someone to call please either:-
Telephone your local Fire Safety Officer on 01376 345537 or
Write to Uttlesford & Braintree Community Command, Fire Station,
Railway Street, Braintree CM7 3JD or
Visit the website at www.essex-
More grant money on its way!
The White Colne Community Design Group has been awarded a £5,000 grant from Greenfields
which will fund the production of a Village Design Statement (VDS) for White Colne!
Over 100 volunteer hours have already been spent on the project. The first ‘event’
-
The next meeting is on Monday 9th February at 7.30 pm. If you would like to have some input or help with the preparation of the VDS, please come along – all welcome!
See White Colne Community Design Group minutes for further details
News from the Parish Council meeting 19th January 2009
No increase in village precept.
Conscious of the current economic climate the Parish Council is very keen not to increase the financial burden on the people of White Colne and as a result has decided not to increase the precept this coming year. Many other councils are considering increases of around 2.5%. The actual amount that each household pays is based on the number of B and D properties in the Parish. Braintree District Council has decided that there are less band D houses in White Colne this year than there were last year and as a result keeping the precept at the same amount as last year would still result in an increased payment being charged. Consequently, the PC has decided to actually reduce the precept this year which assuming everyone has got their sums right will result in the precept remaining the same.
Kevin Nolan Chairman White Colne Parish Council
Village phone box to be saved.
Following a village wide survey residents have voted to save their traditional red phone box, even if it costs the Parish Council £500 per year, under BT’s Adopt a Box scheme. The Council will continue its efforts to save the box in the hope that the £500 charge will not be levied.
Bus shelter on its way.
White Colne will soon have its very own bus shelter, with a special raised kerb. The shelter will be positioned outside the Old Kings Head. Unfortunately there is not enough room on the opposite side of the road to site a similar one.
New speed limit criteria
Essex County Council Highways has produced a draft policy document outlining new criteria for introducing speed limits in villages. Parish Councillors are hopeful that this new criteria will fit various hazardous areas in the village, in particular at the top of Bures Road around Whites Farm.
News Flash January 22nd
New restaurant for White Colne?
An application for change of use to a restaurant with take away service has been lodged with BDC. The 24 seater restaurant, with 16 seater café, 2 kitchens, a take away area and small shop selling food will be cited in the Fox and Pheasant Centre in the building presently occupied by John Coopers and Sons.. The restaurant hopes to open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 11pm Sundays 9am to 3pm and plans to sell pasta and pizzas with special healthy options for the childrens tea time trade.
The full application can be viewed at www.braintree.gov.uk planning application ref 09/00063/FUL. Observations must be returned to the planning department by February 16th
News from the Parish Cluster meeting 26th January 2009
22 people attended the cluster meeting which included Parish Councillors from White Colne, Earls Colne, Colne Engaine, Greenstead Green & Pebmarsh along with Councillors and representatives of Braintree District Council and Essex County Council.
Planning Issues.
BDC confirmed that any approved technical amendments to granted planning permission would be recorded in their website and the Parish Council informed. They requested that we act as their eyes and ears on the ground and report if any conditions are not discharged.
Speed Calming measures.
ECC have sent out document showing their definition of a "village" which includes a street lighting system, properties on both sides of the road and a minimum of 11 properties within 350mtrs. Lively discussion followed including the suggestion that we should adopt the continental system where speed limits apply from the community boundary, i.e. the Village sign. ECC requested we read the document carefully and submit our comments and suggestions as soon as possible as this may be the last chance to change the criteria for 5 years.
There was discussion about a cycle and pedestrian way from Fox & Pheasant centre at White Colne to Halstead and Earls Colne to Coggeshall. ECC said they are working on this idea and looking at the old railway track as a possible route to Halstead but have not received feedback from the Parish Councils regarding land owners. ECC rejected suggestion of placing it beside the highway because they require a minimum of 3.5mtrs width along the entire length.
Some of the other topics discussed were enforcement of protected lanes, the proposed parking charges in Earls Colne, possible closure of public toilets in Earls Colne and allotment availability in the Three Colnes area. Full minutes of the meeting will be available in the near future
January 28th 2009 Solar Light Up and Glowing
The new solar-
January 2009
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