White Colne

Parish Council

White Colne

May 2008

Dear Residents,

It was a pleasure to meet so many of you at the recent annual electors meeting and discuss some of the issues affecting our village. It is always very useful to receive your views and feedback.   

As we go to press I am delighted to report that ECC have now amended their plan for the development of land to the rear of the village hall, reverting to the originally agreed development line which allows us to keep our football and parking areas. I hope that these amended papers will now be available for ratification at our next Parish Council meeting on May 19th.   

 Our next big event is on June 14th, when we shall be celebrating the heritage of our village. Everyone is welcome and I look forward to seeing you all on the day. click here to view details of the event

Kevin Nolan, Chairman

Heritage Trail Leaflet now available

Our colourful leaflet describing three circular Heritage Trails around White Colne is now available. One will be delivered to each household and extra free copies will be available from dispensers positioned at strategic points around the village. These have been produced by the history group and we hope everyone will enjoy strolling around our village this summer following these “guided” walks.

Church News

The Annual Vestry Meeting and Parochial Church Meeting was held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 23rd April. The Annual Report and Accounts were approved. The PCC was elected for the coming year with Christopher White-Thomson as Churchwarden and Andrew Austin as Treasurer.  John Bowman, Claudia Mercer, Valerie Crees, Bridget Chamberlain, Hugh Mothersole and Juanita White-Thomson were re elected.

Church Services

There will be no Church service at St. Andrew's on Sunday 18th May when there will be a combined three Colnes service at 10.30am in St. Andrew's, Earls Colne.

Christopher White Thomson

Two important issues facing the village

Observant readers will notice that there are two very important issues to be discussed at our PC meeting on May 19th (see agenda in the Public Documents section).

Once again we have a planning application before us to demolish 41 Colchester Road to allow for the provision of 5 dwellings.

Plus BT are proposing to remove our phone box despite that fact that 370 calls have been recorded  in the last year. Our box is one of over 40 under threat in the district but has recorded the 4th highest annual usage in the list.

The Council welcomes your comments on these and all other issues. If you cannot attend the meeting please take the time to telephone or email any of the councillors with your observations.

Jane Taylor

VILLAGE HALL BOTTLE BANKS

A big 'thank you' to the overwhelming majority of you who are using the dustbins correctly by the bottle banks behind the Village Hall for your discarded plastic bags and cardboard boxes.

We would still prefer it if you could take these items home with you and recycle them yourself but the bins have helped enormously in keeping the area tidy and free of litter.

However, there is a very small minority of people who are not using the bins correctly and in the past few weeks a steam iron, hair drier, and sack of clothes have all been removed by a volunteer on the Parish Council and taken to the recycling centre at Witham.  We would therefore like to remind those people that this area is for RECYCLING BOTTLES ONLY, NOT for general recycling. Other recyclable items which are not routinely collected from your home by Braintree Council should be taken to the appropriate recycling centres.

Chris Pearcey

Green Waste Collection

The vehicle will wait from 1210 to 1240 pm at  the Village Hall on Saturdays as follows:

14th JUNE,

12th JULY,

 9th AUGUST,

13th SEPTEMBER

11th OCTOBER

HIGHWAYS

The Parish Council continues to focus its attention on the speeding through the village and it is now nearly eight months since we have had the use of the speedwatch equipment which we share with Earls Colne on a fortnightly basis.  Since the end of last September we have reported nearly 950 offenders to Essex Police for speeding or

anti-social driving behaviour in the village and this has prompted increased enforcement checks throughout the Colne Valley.  Once again thanks to the volunteers who continue to give up their time.  

We have had continuing dialogue with Essex County Council Highways department and whilst we have achieved some successes e.g. the introduction of gritting along Bures Road, various resurfacing works, new road markings, and the soon to be erected 'Unsuitable for HGVs' signs at either end of Boley Road, we are very frustrated by other issues, and in particular the continuous rejection of our proposals for speed limit signs in the vicinities of Whites Farm (on Bures Road) and Cammack's Yard on the A1124. We were led to believe that there was going to be a change in policy on certain highways in Essex but, unfortunately, we are told these stretches of road still do not meet the necessary criteria.  Our County Councillor is very much aware of our safety concerns and we will continue to lobby for speed limits at every opportunity.

Chris Pearcey and John Watt

Charity bike ride June 13th to June 19th

John Edwards will be cycling from Colchester to the foot of Scafel Pike in 6 days. On 7th day he will climb Scafel Pike which is the highest point in England. He will once again be raising money for Scope.

To support John contact him on 01787 222934 or

email   john @colnevalley91.fsnet.co.uk      web site  www.adventure-trek.co.uk

Flight path changes. Information available

The development of the Terminal Control North airspace region covers a large part of London, southern and eastern England, an area with a population of 12 million people and home to some of the UK's busiest airports.

NATS is seeking feedback on this proposal before submitting it to the UK airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, for a decision. The consultation period has been extended to June 19th.

Visit their website for full information  www.consultation.nats.co.uk

Annual Flower Competition

The recent spell of lovely hot weather has encouraged us all out into our gardens.

Don’t forget our Annual Flower Competition for front gardens.

Everyone is automatically entered, providing your garden or containerised display can be viewed from the public highway.

Two prizes will be awarded in the autumn. One for the best display in a front garden and one for the best display in containers.

If you would like to help judge the displays, please get in touch.  

Happy gardening!

Jane Taylor

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click here for details of forthcoming events